Thomson secures key Russian DTT role

Set-top boxes for receiving DTT signals in Russia are to be manufactured by France’s Thomson Broadcast and the local company Almaz-Antey.

According to CNews and AKTR, the news was given by Alexander Zharov, the deputy minister of communications and mass communications, who added that the first receivers would appear this autumn.

A joint venture named Almaz Antey Thomson Broadcast (AATB) in which Almaz-Antey and Thomson Broadcast hold shares of 51% and 49% respectively was formed back in 2006 and will manufacture reception equipment in 6-7 sites around the country including Moscow, St Petersburg, Omsk and Novosibirsk.

DTT services are initially being rolled out in Siberia and the Far East of Russia this year, with the final stage of digitisation due to start in 2013 and be completed two years later.