From 2015 onwards, all DTT tuners sold in Italy must include the DVB-T2 standard, both for stand-alone set tops and for IDTVs.
The government has decided to opt for DVB-T2 due to the launch of new mobile services, including LTE and 4G, in part of the spectrum that is now being used by broadcasters.
The number of available multiplexes for digital broadcasting is being reduced from 55 to 34 and in order to accommodate all the terrestrial broadcasters, there is an urgent need for more efficient use of the available bandwidth.
For consumers, there will be a need to buy new tuners, although a number of DVB-T channels will remain on air for some time.
The announcement comes at the time when Italy is still in the process of switch off analogue broadcasts. From May 7 to May 23 switch-off will take place in Abruzzo and Molise, from May 24 to June 8 in Sicily and Calabria; and in the period from June 11 to 30 analogue will cease in Basilicata and Puglia.
