French Digital Plan France Numérique 2012 released

A comprehensive digital action plan France Numérique 2012 was recently presented by the State Secretary for the development of the digital economy, Eric Besson.
The plan calls on the Prime Minister to publish the first draft of the analogue switch-off roadmap by the end of October.
Three pilot digital switchovers are scheduled to take place in Coulommiers at the end of this year, in Kaysersberg, Alsace, in the second quarter 2009 and in the region of Cherbourg.
The pilots will affect approximately 100,000 people and are meant to monitor any problems in the process.
After Alsace, analogue broadcasting will cease in Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche – Comté.
In 2010 changeover will take place in the west of France, specifically in the regions of Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Basse-Normandie.
The plan also sets the number of DTT multiplexes after ASO in November 2011 at 13. Two of these multiplexes will be for DVB-H services covering 70% of the population with the remaining 11 multiplexes providing DVB-T services extending to 95%.
The plan also assigns the entire band Band III (174-233 MHz) to digital radio when it is released in 2010.
Main source: France Numérique 2012
Item added: 27th October 2008