Italy

[IT] DVB-T National Frequency Plan Adopted

IRIS 2003-4:1/20

Maja Cappello

Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni (AGCOM)

On 29 January 2003 the Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni (Italian Communications Authority - AGCOM) adopted the frequency plan for digital terrestrial television broadcasting pursuant to article 1 para 1, of law no. 66/2001 of 20 March 2001 (see IRIS 2001-4: 9). Broadcasters licensed according to the regulation adopted by the AGCOM on 15 November 2001 (decision no. 435/01/CONS, see IRIS 2002-1: 9) will transmit according to this Plan from 2006. Until then, experimental transmissions will be allowed.

The Plan reflects the structure of the Italian regional territory (Regioni) and envisages 48 frequencies in the UHF band and 6 in the VHF band, which ensure a reception quality of 95%. In an annex to the Plan, tables and maps indicate the exact location of the frequencies with respect to the Italian territory. Given the number of frequencies provided and considering that each network requires 3 frequencies, the total amount of national networks will number 18: 6 of them (33.3%) will be reserved for local programmes and 12 for national ones.

Network operators are allowed to use sites other than those chosen by the Plan, provided that these are equivalent and that they do not cause interference to other operators.

An addition to the Plan in order to define the frequencies that are to be used at local level (so-called 2 level frequency plan) will be adopted next May.