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May 2013

ANACOM releases a report giving an overall assessment of spectrum monitoring and control actions undertaken between January 2011 and March 2013; this report is part of ANACOM's work to oversee the transition to DTT.

April 2013

On 26 April, the DTT subsidy programme ended; meanwhile, the reimbursement programme, aimed at ensuring that those living in areas receiving the digital television signal by satellite incur costs in line with those incurred by people receiving the signal by terrestrial means, remains in force.

By determination of 24 April, ANACOM approved a recommendation to PT Comunicações, S.A. (PTC), regarding information provided on the DTT website (www.tdt.telecom.pt), with a view to making the information provided on the website more accessible and clearer for users.

On 17 April, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of ANACOM appeared before the Portuguese Parliament to provide clarification on the migration to DTT.

March 2013

By determination of 8 March, ANACOM approved the report of the public consultation launched on 18 January on scenarios for the DTT network evolution, concluding that the DTT network configuration should evolve to a multi-frequency network (MFN) made up of small single frequency networks (SFN/MFN).

By the same determination of 8 March, ANACOM approved a draft decision on the DTT network evolution, which was submitted to public consultation.

February 2013

Working visit, on 6 February, of members of Comissão Parlamentar para a Ética, a Cidadania e a Comunicação (CPECC) - the Parliamentary Committee for Ethics, Citizenship and Communication - of the Assembleia da República - the Assembly of the Republic - to ANACOM’s Spectrum Monitoring and Control Centre at Barcarena.

January 2013

On 23 January, a notice was published in the Diário da República - the Official Gazette - on the launch of an international public tender for the deployment of a national network of probes to monitor the DTT signal.

By determination of 18 January, ANACOM approved a public consultation on scenarios for the evolution of the current DTT network.

By determination of 4 January, ANACOM approved the final decision extending - until 26 April 2013 - the duration of the DTT subsidy and co-payment programmes.

December 2012

By means of a draft decision ANACOM decided to extend Portugal's DTT subsidy programmes until 26 April 2013.

ANACOM released a list of issues which users are advised to check in order to ascertain whether DTT signal reception problems result from installation defects. So that the information might be spread to the public, the list has been sent to municipal councils, parish councils, Direção Geral do Consumidor (Directorate General for the Consumer), consumer associations, justices of the peace and arbitration centres.

November 2012

On 26 November, the Chairman of ANACOM's Management Board, Fátima Barros, and vice-Chairman, José Perdigoto, appeared before Parliament to provide information on the DTT implementation process.

By determination of 16 November, ANACOM approved the decision to renew the temporary DTT network license granted to PT Comunicações (PTC) for a period of 180 days, with effect from 15 November. PTC was also ordered to send reasoned information on the definitive solution to be applied upon expiry of this temporary network license.

The final report of the transition process (public version) was released.  This report was prepared by GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group), over which ANACOM presided; it was submitted to the Government pursuant to Resolution of the Council of Ministers no. 26/2009, published on 17 March.

October 2012

On 31 October, following certain allegations made in the news media regarding its role in the process of transition, ANACOM issued a statement affirming that such statements, aimed at injuring the good name of this institution, are both libellous and defamatory.

August 2012

Law no. 36/2012 of 27 August was published, enacting the first amendment to Law no. 6/97 of 01 March, authorizing the broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings on public and private cable TV networks, permitting their provision through DTT.

Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic no. 122/2012 of 27 August was published, on the Canal Parlamento via DTT.

By determination of 23 August, ANACOM has extended the duration of the subsidies and reimbursement programmes until 31 December.

April 2012

On 26 April, a public session was held to mark the definitive transition to DTT, corresponding to the third and final phase of the plan to switch-off analogue terrestrial television transmissions (switch-off plan). The ceremony took place at ANACOM's premises in Porto, and was attended by José Amado da Silva, Chairman of ANACOM's Management Board, by Miguel Relvas, Deputy Minister and of Parliamentary Affairs, by Zeinal Bava, CEO of PT Comunicações, and many others.

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 13 April.

On 12 April, ANACOM launched the third wave of its information campaign on DTT. The goal of the campaign was to bring the population information on what people needed to do so that would still be able to watch the four free-to-air channels after the transition from analogue to digital television.

Deputy Minister and of Parliamentary Affairs, Miguel Relvas, appeared before Parliament on 3 April to answer questions about the deployment of DTT. The hearing was conducted by the Comissão para a Ética, a Cidadania e a Comunicação, following a request presented by the BE - Bloco de Esquerda (Left Block) Parliamentary Group.

March 2012

By determination of 23 March, ANACOM approved the creation of a new subsidy (installation), available until 31 August 2012. ANACOM also decided to extend the subsidy available for the acquisition of equipment until 31 August 2012, and also approved an alteration in the value of the DTH Kit, extending the programme to the second set-top box.

Two public sessions were held on the Azores and Madeira to mark the definitive transition to DTT on the islands of the two archipelagos. On the Azores, the ceremony took place in Ponta Delgada and was attended by Alberto Souto de Miranda, ANACOM vice-chairman and by Paulo Menezes, representing the Regional Government and the Regional Secretariat of Science and Technology and Equipment. On Madeira, the ceremony took place at the site of the transmitter at Pico do Silva, in Camacha, in the presence of Eduardo Cardadeiro, member of ANACOM's management board and Jaime de Freitas, Regional Secretary of Education and Human Resources.

Preparing for the second phase of the switch-off scheduled for 22 of March, covering the Azores and Madeira, a campaign of outdoor advertising and posters was conducted on the islands, many posted in sites provided free by local councils, while advertisements were also run in the local press. ANACOM also distributed a letter to all homes in areas with satellite reception, explaining the procedures and conditions applicable to the reimbursement available for equipment (DTT DTH Kit) to be acquired by residents of these areas.

Meanwhile, the results of ANACOM's monthly monitoring study were released, with reference to February. The study evaluates the ongoing preparations for DTT among the homes of Mainland Portugal (results determined by Marktest).

ANACOM also released the results of its study evaluating the ongoing preparations for DTT among homes in the coastal area of Mainland Portugal without access to subscription television or to the four channels through free cable (information compiled by Marktest).

February 2012

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 27 February.

On 23 February, in accordance with the schedule for the first phase of the plan to switch-off analogue terrestrial television transmissions (the switch-off plan), the transmitter at São Macário was switched off, along with the relays at Préstimo, Viseu, Cedrim, Vouzela, Vale de Cambra, Covas do Monte, Santa Maria da Feira, Arouca, Rio Arda, Lalim, Vila Nova de Gaia, Foz, Valongo, Santo Tirso, Caldas de Vizela, Caldas de Vizela II, Amarante, Gondar, São Domingos, Ancede, Caldas de Aregos, Resende, Lamego and Santa Marta de Penaguião (final stage of the first phase of the switch-off).

On 15 February, Portugal's Parliamentary Committee for Ethics, Citizenship and Communication conducted a hearing on DTT, with ANACOM's Management Board appearing, following the debate taking place on 31 January at the colloquium on digital terrestrial television (DTT) organised by the Committee.

Member of ANACOM's Management Board, Eduardo Cardadeiro, visited Madeira on 15 and 16 February to provide clarifications and information on DTT to Madeira's Members of Parliament, and to make contacts with Madeira's Social Security services, Serviço Regional de Defesa do Consumidor (Regional Consumer Protection Service) and Associação de Freguesias da Madeira (Association of Madeira Parishes). 

Mr Cardadeiro has also visited the Azores with the same objective. On 9 and 10 February, he met with the Municipal Councils of Praia da Vitória and of Angra do Heroísmo and with the presidents of local parish councils, as well as with local social action departments and Lar D. Pedro V. On the island of Faial, he met with the Municipal Council of Horta and with local Social Security services.

In the preparation for the 2nd phase of the switch-off (occurring on 22 March), ANACOM posted billboards and outdoor advertisements around the islands, with many of the spaces provided free by local municipal councils, with advertisements also published in local press. In addition, ANACOM distributed a letter to all households in areas with satellite reception, explaining the procedures and conditions for obtaining the subsidy available towards the acquisition of the equipment (DTH Kit) which will be needed by residents in these areas.

On 6 February, Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic no. 11/2012 was published. In this Resolution, the Government is called on adopt the measures necessary to accomplish universal coverage of the digital signal, either by DTT or by satellite, without additional costs to users, thereby ensuring that no citizen is denied access to the digital television signal, especially as a result of economic factors.

ANACOM has produced a leaflet with information on the financial support available for the purchase of equipment necessary to make televisions ready to receive DTT (DTH set-top box or DTH Kit), specifically targeting beneficiaries of Rendimento Social de Inserção (Income Support), retirees or pensioners with a monthly income below 500 euros and those with a degree of disability of 60 percent or greater. This leaflet was distributed with the help of the Social Security service and addressed to Centros Distritais da Segurança Social (Social Security District Centres) and CIAC - Centros de Informação Autárquicos ao Consumidor (Municipal Consumer Information Centres).

The results of ANACOM's monthly monitoring study were released, with reference to January. The study evaluates the ongoing preparations for DTT among the homes of Mainland Portugal (results determined by Marktest).

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

January 2012

On 27 January, ANACOM and CMP - Câmara Municipal do Porto (Porto Municipal Council) signed a cooperation protocol with the goal of bringing information to the public about the transition to DTT. Information was provided by the municipality through a range of media (including bills, newsletters, websites), as well as through agents working closely with citizens (especially those on low incomes or with special needs), after receiving specific training from ANACOM.

ANACOM worked with CTT -Correios de Portugal on a campaign to raise awareness among the population about the switch to DTT, through this company's staff (post offices and postmen). The campaign covered 54 municipalities, selected according to socio-demographic indicators (such as the aging index or average monthly income, per municipality), indicators on DTT coverage and the coverage of the previous analogue signal and indicators on subscription television (such as penetration rate and market share by technology). In these 54 municipalities, ANACOM has added further to its communication efforts by distributing a letter with information explaining, in particular, the procedures and conditions for reimbursement of equipment (DTH Kit) to be acquired by residents in the areas with reception of the digital television signal by satellite (DTH zones).

On January 12, a session was held to mark the beginning of the 1st phase of the plan for the cessation of analogue terrestrial television transmissions (switch-off plan), which began the definitive transition to DTT. The ceremony took place in Palmela and was attended by ANACOM's Chairman, José Amado da Silva, Portugal's Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Miguel Relvas, and the CEO of Portugal Telecom, Zeinal Bava. The transmitters were switched off at Palmela (RTP and TVI) along with the relays of Alcácer do Sal, Melides and Sesimbra.

By determination of 6 January, ANACOM approved, by final decision, alteration of the value of the DTH Kit; reducing the value to 40 euros after subsidies, from the previous 55 euros (applicable to all processes involving subsidies with purchase receipts dated after 7 October 2011).

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 6 January.

On 5 January, ANACOM approved a re-scheduling of the switch-offs occurring in the 1st phase of the switch-off plan , making the correction of any problems easier to achieve and reducing the impact associated with the operation.

On 2 January, the second wave of ANACOM's DTT information campaign began, informing the public about what they needed to do in order to make sure that they would still be able to watch the four free-to-air channels after the switch over from analogue to digital television.

The results of ANACOM's monthly monitoring study were released, with reference to December. The study evaluates the ongoing preparations for DTT among the homes of Mainland Portugal (results determined by Marktest).

ANACOM released the results of its study evaluating the ongoing preparations for DTT among homes in the coastal area of Mainland Portugal without access to subscription television or to the four channels through free cable (information compiled by Marktest).

December 2011

The results of ANACOM's monthly monitoring study were released, with reference to November. The study evaluates the ongoing preparations for DTT among the homes of Mainland Portugal (results determined by Marktest).

November 2011

On 28 November, ANACOM launched its information campaign on DTT, targeting the general public with information about what they needed to do in order to make sure that they would still be able to watch the four free-to-air channels after the switch over from analogue to digital television and highlighting the national switch-off schedule. The campaign, developed by FUEL Publicidade, was conducted using a range of communications media, including television, radio, outdoor advertising, billboards and electronic platforms, and developed over three stages:

• First stage- from 28.11.2011 to 12.12.2011
• Second stage - from 02.01.2012 to 17.01.2012
• Third stage - from 12.04.2012 to 01.05.2012

ANACOM has partnered with DECO to conduct one hundred DTT training sessions - 5 sessions in each of the 18 districts of the country and 10 sessions in areas with DTH coverage.

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

October 2011

On 27 October, ANACOM began distribution of about six million copies of the Guia TDT (DTT Guide), bringing all households and commercial establishments the information required to complete the switch over to DTT. Distribution was performed by CTT - Correios de Portugal, over five days, across the whole of mainland Portugal and in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

On 13 October, Nazaré and a number of parishes of Alcobaça switched over definitely from analogue television to DTT, the event was marked by a public meeting in Nazaré, held in Praça Sousa Oliveira (Praça dos Cafés) in the presence of local councillors, representatives of TV stations, and also the Chairman of ANACOM Management Board, José Amado da Silva, and board member Eduardo Cardadeiro.

In early October, ANACOM distributed a letter to every household in the parishes of Famalicão (municipality of Nazaré) and Alfeizerão (municipality of Alcobaça), warning of the need to prepare for reception of the DTT signal via satellite (DTH).

ANACOM signed a protocol with DECO to conduct comparative testing of DTT set-top boxes, with the results kept up-to-date and available on ANACOM's website.

ANACOM released the final results of its study, evaluating the preparations for DTT among private households covered by the relay at Nazaré, differentiating terrestrial and satellite zones (compilation of information by Marktest).

September 2011

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 26 September.

The Chairman of ANACOM's Management Board, José Amado da Silva, appeared before Parliament on 20 September to provide clarifications on the process of DTT implementation in Portugal. The hearing was called by the Parliamentary Committee for Ethics, Citizenship and Communication, following a request submitted by the PSD - Partido Social Democrata (Social Democratic Party) Parliamentary Group.

ANACOM published an updated electronic version of the DTT Guide, with the objective of helping all people prepare for the switch over to DTT.

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

August 2011

ANACOM organised a beach event on DTT, with distribution of "TDT Notícias" (DTT News) on 10 beaches in the Algarve and in the region of Nazaré/Alcobaça.

July 2011

From 4 to 6 July, ANACOM organised national distribution of "TDT Notícias" (DTT News), a free newsletter published by this Authority to inform the population about the process of switching to DTT in Portugal, following on from a local campaign (in the area of Cacém) launched in May 2011. In the same week, "DTT News" was distributed as an insert in the magazines "TV 7 Dias" and "TV Guia".

June 2011

On 16 June, the television relay in Cacém became the next relay to start transmitting only terrestrial digital television.

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 9 June.

ANACOM released the final results of the second phase of the study, evaluating the preparations for DTT among private households covered by the relay at Cacém (compilation of information by Marktest).

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

May 2011

On 26 May, after finding deficiencies in the information provided by PT Comunicações on the allocation of grants for the acquisition of DTT reception equipment and provision of equipment and installation in areas with alternative means of coverage (DTH), ANACOM decided to order PTC to immediately make the respective corrections.

By determination of 19 May 2011, ANACOM determined the prohibition of commercial practices which, in some way, led to a perception among consumers that it was necessary to subscribe to a paid service in order to be able to continue watching the unrestricted free-to-air television channels, RTP1, RTP2, SIC and TVI, as well as RTP Açores and RTP Madeira in the respective Autonomous Regions. Such practices were ruled as constituting an unfair commercial practice pursuant to Decree-Law no. 57/2008 of 26 March. This prohibition is aimed at electronic communication companies which provide or sell television signal distribution services.

On 12 May 2011, the Alenquer relay began transmissions of digital television only, as scheduled in the DTT switch-off plan.

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 6 May.

On 2 May 2011, ANACOM published the "Guia TDT" (DTT Guide) with the aim of helping the general population, clearing up queries and explaining clearly and simply what people need to do to get their homes ready for the arrival of DTT. Initially, the Guide's distribution is limited to the pilot zones, but will be extended to reach homes across Portugal.

ANACOM released the final results of the first phase of the study, evaluating the preparations for DTT among private households covered by the relay at Cacém (compilation of information by Marktest).

April 2011

On 7 April, ANACOM approved the decision establishing procedures on the grant of subsidy for installation and equipment in areas covered by means of complementary coverage (DTH) of digital television.

By determination of 4 April, ANACOM approved the final decision on the alteration of the operating channel of multiplexer A (Mux A) of DTT in Mainland Portugal. The frequency usage right ICP-ANACOM number 06/2008 assigned to PT Comunicações thereby incorporated the replacement of channel 67 (838-846 MHz) by channel 56 (750-758 MHz).

ANACOM released the final results of its study, evaluating the preparations for DTT among private households covered by the relay at Alenquer (compilation of information by Marktest).

March 2011

On 31 March, ANACOM approved the decision on the DTT information and promotion campaign, which is associated with the frequency usage rights ICP-ANACOM number 6 /2008 issued to PT Comunicações.

By determination of 24 March, ANACOM approved a decision concerning the grant by PT Comunicações (PTC) of a subsidy for the purchase of DTT receiving equipment by citizens with special needs, disadvantaged groups of population and institutions of a proven social value.

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 16 March.

By determination of 9 March, ANACOM approved a final decision regarding the alteration of some operating channels of multiplexer A (Mux A) of the digital terrestrial television service (DTT), assigned to PT Comunicações for the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores. As such, radio channels 61 (790-798 MHz), 64 (814-822 MHz) and 67 (838-846 MHz) were replaced by channel 54 (734-742 MHz) in Madeira and by channels 48 (686-694 MHz), 49 (694-702 MHz) and 54 (742-750 MHz) in the Azores.

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

January 2011

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 4 January.

December de 2010

On 22 December, ANACOM approved the final decision on the identification of retransmitters and their dates of termination of emissions of the pilot phase, provided in the detailed plan of cessation of analogue terrestrial television emissions.

In this way, the cessation of these emissions shall occur in the following retransmitters and dates:

• Alenquer retransmitter - 12 May 2011
• Cacém retransmitter - 16 June 2011
• Nazaré retransmitter - 13 October 2011

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

September 2010

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 2 September.

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

July 2010

By determination of 12 July, ANACOM decided to revoke the act of granting rights of use of frequencies associated with multiplexers B to F and, consequently, the five titles which substantiate the rights assigned to PT Comunicações, without forfeiture of the guarantee bond.

June 2010

On June 24, 2010, ANACOM, in compliance with paragraph 2 of Resolution of the Council of Ministers, number. 26/2009, published on 17 March, approved to the final decision on the detailed plan for the cessation of terrestrial analogue transmissions (switch-off plan), which should occur according to the following schedule:

• 1st phase - 12 January 2012
• 2nd Phase - 22 March 2012
• 3rd Phase - 26 April 2012

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

April 2010

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 21 April.

March 2010

On 10 March, ANACOM authorised amendments to the DTT network associated with multiplexer A (Mux A) of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, subsequent to a request made by PT Comunicações.

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

December 2009

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 16 December.

ANACOM released the quarterly report on the retail television and set-top box market, contracted to GfK Portugal to provide analysis and oversight of the evolution of set-top box pricing.

October 2009

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 8 October.

June 2009

On 9 June, ANACOM allocated to PT Comunicações, S. A., rights of use for frequencies, for the provision of the digital terrestrial television broadcasting services, to which multiplexers B to F (MUX B to F) are associated.

May 2009

GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) met on 11 May.

December 2008

On 9 December, ANACOM allocated to PT Comunicações, S.A. a right to use frequencies, on a national basis, for the provision of the DTT broadcasting service, for the transmission of television programmes of free unrestricted access and associated with multiplexer A (MUX A).

October 2008

Endorsement of the proposals of the tender review committee

• On 16 October, ANACOM and the Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social (ERC) endorsed the proposal of the review committee in respect of the allocation of the frequency usage rights, on a national and part national basis, for the digital terrestrial television broadcasting service (multiplexers B to F), as well as the licensing of the distribution operator, to PT Comunicações as the tenderer achieving the best classification;
  
  
• On 20 October, ANACOM endorsed the proposal of the review committee, of the same date, to allocate to PT Comunicações, as the only tenderer, a frequency usage right on a national basis for the digital terrestrial television broadcasting service (multiplexer A).

February 2008

Launch of two public tenders with respect to the introduction of DTT in Portugal:

• Tender for the allocation of a right to use frequencies on a national basis for the digital terrestrial television broadcasting service (multiplexer A) - Regulation no 95-A/2008 of 25 February; and
  
  
• Tender for the allocation of rights to use frequencies on a national and part national basis for the digital terrestrial television broadcasting service (multiplexer B to F) - Administrative Rule no 207-A/2008 of 25 February.

Approval of the Decision on the limitation of the number of frequency usage rights reserved for digital terrestrial television broadcasting and definition of the respective allocation procedure.

August of 2007

Launching of the public consultations which cover the process of introducing DTT in Portugal

July of 2007

Publication of the Television Law, which regulates the access to and performance of the television activity - Law no. 27/2007, of 30 of Julyhttp://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=515993.

November 2006

Public consultation on the preliminary Draft Television Law.

Media Capital is granted temporary authorisation until the end of 2006 and with waiver of licence to use channels 64 (814-822 >MHz) and 30 (542-550 MHz) for the purpose of performing technical trials, respectively, of digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) and digital television with mobile terminal reception (DVB-H).

October 2006

The temporary authorisation with waiver of license granted to Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) for the use of block 12C (226, 592-228, 128 MHz) is extended until the end of 2006. This temporary authorisation was granted for the purpose of performing technical trials of Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB) technology.

July 2006

Authorisation is granted to Instituto das Telecomunicações for the use, until the end of 2006, of channel 67 (838-846 MHz), for the purposes of performing technical trials of digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) and digital television with mobile terminal reception (DVB-H).

May / June 2006

Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC-06) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which saw the development of the international frequency plan for digital terrestrial broadcasting and the definition of the analogue/digital transition period until 2015, during the course of which analogue television stations will remain entitled to protection.

November 2005

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, strengthening the policy advocated in the Commission's communication of May 2005, urging Member States to reduce the period of parallel broadcasting to a minimum (Simulcasting).

July 2005

Authorisation granted to Siemens, SGC Telecom and Grupo Media Capital to perform technical trials of digital terrestrial television (DVB-T), digital television with mobile terminal reception (DVB-H) and of the MPEG-4 compression format.

May 2005

The European Commission adopts a Communication on "Accelerating the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting", in which the community policy objectives in this area are set out and 2012 is proposed as the deadline for the closure (switch-off) of analogue transmissions in all Member States.

August 2004

Protocol is signed between the Government of the Portuguese Republic, the Regional Government of the Madeira, Cabo TV Madeirense (CTVM) and ANACOM. This protocol is to provide the residents of Madeira with free access to Mainland Portugal's free access channels (currently ''RTP1'', ''A: 2'', ''SIC'' and ''TVI''), as well as the gradual migration from analogue to digital technologies.

June 2004

Digital Television Mission Unit (DTMU) is set up inside ANACOM.

March 2003

Revocation of the operation license granted to Plataforma de Televisão Digital Portuguesa, S. A., by Order of the Minister for the Economy, on 25 March 2003http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=101471, based on the opinion of ANACOM that favoured the license revocation.

September 2002

Order of the Minister for the Economy of 22 August 2002http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=68314, determines that the effective commencement of the commercial operation of the DTT platform be postponed until 1 March 2003.

May 2002

PDTP - Plataforma de Televisão Digital Portuguesa, S. A. submits request for an extension of the time limit.

January 2002

Date set for the beginning of the commercial operation of the DTT platform.

August 2001

Homologation, by Order of the Minister for Social Equipment of 17 August 2001http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=87467, of the proposal of the Commission responsible for the assessment of applications regarding the allocation of a license to PDTP – Plataforma de Televisão Digital Portuguesa, S. A. for the establishment and operation of a DTT platform.

April 2001

Public tender opened for the award of a national license for the establishment and operation of a DTT platform, by Order of the Minister for Social Equipment of 7 April 2001 (Notice no. 5520-A/2001, of 7 Aprilhttp://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=83969).