Hispasat to extend DTT in Spain

Hispasat has proposed a plan to the Government designed to extend DTT services to the 10% of the country, mostly rural areas, not already covered by the terrestrial service.
Hispasat wants to play an important role in the deployment of DTT and is in talks with “the Administration and some operators”, according to the Development Director of Hispasat, Pascual Menendez.”We propose to combine both systems. Using terrestrial wherever it is possible and satellite wherever it is difficult or expensive” (to do it via terrestrial), he said. Currently, he estimates 200 transmitters are used to distribute DTT signals, but to cover 98 per cent of the population by 2010, around 3,000 will be needed. “That means a (high) cost and it takes a lot of time”.
His proposal comes at a time when state-owned group RTVE is leading a Freesat project, similar to Freesat in the UK or the French initiative.
Both parties, RTVE and Hispasat, are reported to be holding meetings and contact over the last few months to implement the Freesat project
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 16th July 2007