The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Russia will be undertaken on a region-by-region basis, according to Igor Shchegolev, the country’s Minister of Telecommunications and Mass Communications.
Quoted in Cableman, he added that the first part to go digital would be the border area in the southeast.
This would be followed by the western border region, and finally the rest of the country, while simulcasting would take place until at least 95% of households can receive digital TV services.
Russia expects to complete the transition to digital broadcasting in 2015, hence the prioritising of border regions.
These will be affected by signals from its neighbours, who will in most if not all instances have become all digital much earlier.