Better switchover from analogue to digital television - press release in Latvia
14 May, 2007
The current state of digital television, the formation of the private joint stock company TV Latvija, and Lattelekom’s recently launched interactive digital TV services are all signs of a significant new stage in the switchover from analogue to digital television in Latvia (an EU directive goal for 2012). This new situation provides satellite operators with special advantages, as satellite television – which is driving HDTV development – offers not only the best channels, but excellent definition as well.
Per Norman, CEO of the satellite operator SES SIRIUS and a member of the board of the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), puts it this way: “If the switchover from analogue to digital TV is done right, it could generate enormous potential for growth in new services.” Mr Norman is pleased that digital television and HDTV are also at the top of the agenda in Latvia – especially after the international “Digital Switchover in the EU” conference was held in Riga on 4 December. This conference brought together technical and legal experts from the three Baltic States, who discussed technological opportunities in the new EU Member States. It was noted at the conference that the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting is regulated by the EU Electronic Communications Regulatory Framework, where equality is promoted through the basic principle of technological neutrality. The aim is to ensure fair competition between all operators in the market, and fair play in the implementation of digital television.
The EU Commission has found that Austria and the German State of Berlin-Brandenburg have illegally favoured terrestrial networks. Investigations of similar activities in other EU Member States are being carried out today.
As ESOA General Secretary Aarti Holla-Maini puts it: “After this discovery, the EU Commission has been looking at the Baltic States, too – especially those emerging economies that could gain a competitive edge by allowing all platforms and technologies to participate in the switchover, thereby benefiting the governments and citizens of these countries. If a government is going to invest in a digital switchover for its citizens, it should subsidise terrestrial, cable and satellite end-user equipment equally – rather than promoting a single network solution..”
In the Baltic States, where digital television is to be implemented within just 4 years, ministerial decisions and the right attitude towards the implementation process are crucial.
The satellite operator SES SIRIUS has taken the initiative and sent a letter to Latvia’s Minister of Transportation, Ainārs Šlesers, requesting that SES SIRIUS be included in a working group that the Ministry formed in January. The working group is intended to discuss how best to implement the digital television principle in Latvia. The Ministry officially announced that SES SIRIUS would be included in the working group, and noted the company’s experience in providing satellite-based internet access in other European countries.
About SIRIUS SATELLITE SERVICES Latvia
The SIRIUS satellite system is operated by the Swedish company SES SIRIUS AB, which has been operating the SIA SIRIUS Satellite Service Latvia subsidiary and a teleport station in Riga since March 2002.
The teleport station uplinks digital TV and radio signals to the SIRIUS satellite system, enabling any Baltic television company to broadcast its programmes via satellite beyond the borders of the Baltic States, and even throughout Europe.
SES SIRIUS AB owns and operates the satellites in the SIRIUS satellite system (SIRIUS 2 and 3). SIRIUS is a leading satellite system in the Nordic, Baltic, Central and Eastern European countries and offers cost-effective solutions for TV and radio broadcasting and broadband services in these regions. The SIRIUS satellites are located at orbital position 5˚ East and offer reliable communication links across Europe.
SES SIRIUS AB is 25% owned by the Swedish Space Corporation and 75% by SES ASTRA, one of the world's leading satellite operators.
SIRIUS Satellite Services via provides a range of television and radio broadcasting services, as well as internet services. Satellite-based digital transmissions already cover all areas of the Baltic States – in Latvia alone, approximately 100,000 households have chosen satellite broadcasting.
A considerable number of Latvian and Baltic television channels have chosen satellite broadcasting via SIRIUS.
For additional information, please contact:
Anna-Karin Modigh
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
+46 (0)708-94 25 86
anna-karin.modigh@ses-sirius.com
