DIGITAL SWITCHOVER STRATEGIES – LONDON. HD DVB-T test transmissions will start in the southern part of Finland next week during the Vancouver Olympics. The country will also award licences to content providers for two HD DVB-T2 MPEG-4 multiplexes sometime this month.
According to Tauno Äijälä, counsellor of communications, senior advisor DTT Helpdesk, there have been a total of 17 applications for the eight channels, occupying 10 Mbps each, on the two multiplexes. A telco named DNA has already been awarded a licence to operate the two multiplexes, which will use VHF frequencies freed up from analogue TV.
The multiplexes should launch this autumn and will initially reach 40% of the population, rising to 60% next year.
Äijälä adds that Finland is likely to have 16 HD channels in four years time, with all but one or two being paid-for services.
