Consultation on ASO plan

The Portuguese communications regulator Anacom has opened a consultation on its proposed plan for analogue switch-off (ASO). The consultation is open for comment until the 18th May 2010.
In the proposal ASO will take place in three phases, each seven days long.
The first phase would begin on the 7th January 2012 with the switch-off of analogue services in the mainland coastal zone.
The second phase which starts on the 22nd March 2012 will see ASO in Madeira and the Azores.
The third and final phase would start on the 26th April 2012 and see ASO in the rest of the mainland.
The plan also proposes that several analogue switch-off pilots take place in first half of 2011 in order to prepare for switch-off and raise viewer awareness.
The final switch off date of the 26th April 2012 is contingent on the DTT coverage of the Free to air multiplex reaching full population coverage by the end of 2010.
Currently, DTT services are available to 80% of the population.
Source: Anacom
Item added: 30th April 2010