Regulation News

South Africa announces DTT STB subsidy plans
Oct 22, 2009 – As part of its transition to digital TV, South Africa's Cabinet has allocated R400 million to subsidise the set-top boxes of up to 5 million poor households. The country's Bureau of Standards is finalising a South African DTT STB standard.
News categories: Department of Communications, Digital TV, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box, South Africa, Terrestrial

Two mobile TV licences for Taiwan in 2010
Oct 19, 2009 – The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in Taiwan is planning to offer two national mobile TV operating licences for the country in 2010. The government will remain neutral on the standard to be used for the broadcasting.
News categories: MOTC, Digital TV, Mobile, Regulation, Taiwan

Beginning of implementation of digital terrestrial TV in Poland
Oct 1, 2009 – Poland's Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has granted general exclusive frequency licences for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting on the country's first DVB-T multiplex (MUX1). MPEG-4 (AVC/H.264) video coding will be used.
News categories: Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej, Digital TV, Poland, Regulation, Terrestrial

Egypt to offer two triple-play telecom licences
Sep 30, 2009 – Egypt is to invite bids for two licences for 'triple-play' cable, telephone and internet services which it expects to generate $1 billion in new investments within five years.
News categories: National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Broadband, Cable TV, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Egypt, IPTV, Regulation

California proposes new TV energy efficiency standards
Sep 21, 2009 – The California Energy Commission proposes to make changes to the Appliance Efficiency Standards contained in the California Code of Regulations. The proposed standards would cover new TVs offered for sale in California beginning in 2011 and 2013.
News categories: California Energy Commission, Digital TV, Regulation, Smart TV, USA

AXTEL awarded licence to provide pay TV in Mexico
Sep 15, 2009 – AXTEL (BMV: AXTELCPO; OTC: AXTLY) has announced that it has been issued with a concession to provide satellite pay TV services in Mexico. AXTEL plans to offer bundled services of voice, data and video in early 2010.
News categories: AXTEL, Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, Digital TV, Mexico, Regulation, Satellite

Korea to switch off analogue TV in three counties
Sep 3, 2009 – The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has said that analogue TV services in Danyang, Uljin and Gangjin will be switched-off in the second half of 2010. Jeju Island will follow in 2011.
News categories: Korea Communications Commission, ATSC 3, Digital TV, Korea, Regulation, Set Top Box, Terrestrial

WirelessHD® 60GHz CE Products Arrive in Europe
Sep 3, 2009 – The WirelessHD® Consortium has announced that the European Union has approved the 60GHz band for unlicensed commercial use and WirelessHD products are now available in Europe. Products will be showcased at the IFA Expo in Berlin.
News categories: WirelessHD, European Commission, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Digital TV, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, IFABerlin, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Regulation, Romania, Semiconductor, Slovakia, Slovenia, Smart Home, Smart TV, Spain, Sweden, UK

Updated ETSI standard promises increased broadband capacity
Aug 25, 2009 – A new version of an ETSI Standard - 'Fixed Radio Systems; Characteristics and requirements for point-to-point equipment and antennas' - promises significantly increased broadband capacity to meet the ever-growing demands of European communications.
News categories: ETSI, Broadband, Regulation, Smart Home