Italy

[IT] Government Approves the Final Transition to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting

IRIS 2008-10:1/22

Valentina Moscon

Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law. Trento Law and Technology Research Group, University of Trento

The Italian Parliament converted the decreto-legge (draft law) n. 59/2008 into Act 101/2008, embodying urgent provisions for the fulfillment of European Community obligations.

Recently, on 10 September 2008, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, according to the provisions of article 8 novies, paragraph V of the mentioned draft law n. 59/2008, signed a Ministerial Act, which contains the timetable for analogue switch-off. In fact, the measure – in order to pursue complete digitisation by 31 December 2012, as required by Italian Law n. 222/2007 – sets a plan for a gradual transition to digital broadcasting. The Autorità per la Garanzia nelle Comunicazioni (Italian communications authority - AGCOM) also approved the project unanimously.

The process will take place across 16 regions between 2009 and 2012. Sixteen technical areas have been identified following a thorough technical analysis conducted by the Comitato Nazionale Italia Digitale (National Italian Digital Committee). In order to ensure an efficient use of the frequency resources and the continuity of receiving programs, the technical areas do not always coincide with administrative regions.

The provision establishes a gradual and progressive transition to DTT starting from the second half of 2009 until the second semester of 2012. Nevertheless, the switchover pilots which are currently underway in Sardinia and the Aoste Valley will be completed in early 2009, as originally planned. Four regions will switch-off analogue services in 2009 including Lazio, Campania, Trentino Alto-Adige and Piemonte. The process will end in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is expected that by 2010 70% of the population will have completed digital switchover.

Finally, the Italian ministry has stressed that the process has social repercussions and has therefore suggested providing contributions to aid disadvantaged people.