Russia’s Ministry of Communications has called for the adoption of a programme on subsidised set-top boxes in order to ensure the country completes the transition to digital broadcasting by the end of 2016.
At that point, say Izvestia and Mediasat, 95% of households should already have digital receivers.
In the ministry’s view, this will require financial assistance from both federal and regional budgets, as not everyone will be able to afford reception equipment.
It estimates that 7.3 million families fall into the latter category, and with the average set-top box costing R2,500 (€61.94) the amount required would be some R18.3 billion.
Russia should have two DTT multiplexes, reaching at least 97.6% of the population, up and running by the end of 2015.