Over half of Swedish households will be able to receive transmissions from the new HD terrestrial network when it goes live on November 1. Network operator Teracom is currently engaged in building out the service that will cover the majority of Swedish households by 2012.
An initial 17 relay stations will carry the HD signals. A further 16 will be brought into service before the end of the year, securing coverage for 70% of households.
The HD offer comprises both free-to-air and pay-TV channels. HD versions of SVT1 and SVT2 will be available without subscription, while pay-TV services from MTV, National Geographic and Canal+ will be available through the Teracom subsidiary Boxer.
Sweden will use the DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 technical combination pioneered in the UK. Two multiplexes will carry HD signals; Multiplex 6 will be solely in the UHF band, while Multiplex 7 will be in either VHF or UHF, depending on frequency availability.
VHF was used by SVT1 right up until 2007.
