Arqiva Wins Contract To Run New DTT Network

SDN, the ITV owned multiplex operator, has awarded a £500 million contract to design, build and run a new digital terrestrial TV (DTT) network to Arqiva.

The contract has been awarded in preparation for the forthcoming digital switchover (see Whitehaven Gets Ready For Digital Switchover), with the replacement network having increased transmission power levels which means that by the end of switchover it will be available to more than 90% of the UK population.

In April, Arqiva bought the Freeview multiplex operator National Grid Wireless (NGW) for $2.5 billion (see Arqiva Acquires National Grid Wireless).

The contract will run for 27 years and comes after the appointment of Arqiva as the digital transmission supplier to the two BBC multiplexes.

A recent report conducted by YouGov for uSwitch.com revealed that tens of millions of British people are still unaware of when their region will turn off its analogue television signal and switchover to digital (see More Than 70% Of UK Adults Still In The Dark Over Switchover).

Border will be the first region to lose its analogue signal to digital, starting with the west Cumbrian town of Whitehaven on October 17 this year (see Digital Switchover Gets October Start Date).

Arqiva: 01962 823434 www.arqiva.com