Czech Republic to begin DVB-T2 trials

The Czech Telecommunications Office (Český telekomunikační úřad – “ČTÚ”) has commissioned the Czech Metrology Institute (Český metrologický institut – ČMI) to run trials prior to the introduction of DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television broadcasting in the country.

The trial is planned in four stages:

• December 2010-May 2011 – Transmitter Tests: Prague ch. 25, 5 kW ERP;
• June-July 2011 – Testing with STB receivers;
• August-September 2011 – SFN network tests;
• to the end of 2011 – Reserved for additional testing.

In 2011 the trial will be expanded to also cover České Budějovice (Budweis). A commercial DVB-T2 service could be launched in the 2013 to 2015 time frame.