22.2. Digital terrestrial television (DTT)

In 2012, analogue TV broadcasting in Portugal was discontinued, 55 years after it was launched. In its place, and after a period of simulcast lasting twelve months, digital television was deployed; this process entailed the migration of about 1.3 million families to the new technology as a condition for their being able to continue watch free-to-air television.

The transition to digital was conducted gradually, in three phases, as established in the switch-off plan approved in 2010. The first phase began on 12 January 2012 and was divided into five stages, with transmitters and relays providing coverage of the mainland coastline switched off on 12 January, 23 January, 1 February, 13 February and 23 February 2012. The second phase of the switch-off was completed on 22 March, covering the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira. Finally, on 26 April, the last analogue transmitters still operating in the remainder of the territory were switched off and transmissions were, from then on, exclusively digital.

The process of switching off analogue television signals in Portugal was preceded by intense preparations by ICP-ANACOM, entailing extensive use of resources. This was a process where responsibility was shared between several entities and which affected the entire Portuguese population; it was therefore incumbent upon ICP-ANACOM to ensure that the switch-off of the analogue signal and the transition to digital television was concluded with as little disruption as possible, ensuring that no one was left denied the right to watch television.

During this process, ICP-ANACOM worked with a wide range of entities which have close relationships with the local population and which were in a position to make an important contribution in supporting citizens. As such ICP-ANACOM contacted all parish churches, IPSS - instituições particulares de solidariedade social (private institutions of social solidarity), Misericórdias (charities) and municipal and parish councils by email, establishing partnerships with ANAFRE - Associação Nacional de Freguesias (National Association of Parishes), Instituto da Segurança Social (Social Security Institute), DGC - Direção-Geral do Consumidor (Directorate General for the Consumer), DECO - Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do Consumidor (Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection), television stations and CTT. With CTT, teams were set up (post offices and postmen) to support the population, in a campaign that covered 54 municipalities, selected according to socio-demographic indicators on DTT coverage (such as the ageing index or average monthly income, per municipality) and according to 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 added further to its communication efforts by distributing, not just the Guia TDT (DTT guide), but also a letter with information explaining, in particular, the procedures and conditions for reimbursement of equipment (DTH Kit) to be acquired by residents in areas with satellite reception of the digital television signal (DTH zones).

In February 2012, ICP-ANACOM produced a leaflet with information on financial support available for the purchase of equipment necessary to make televisions ready to receive DTT (DTH set-top box or DTH Kit). This was produced, 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 not less than 60 percent. This leaflet was distributed with the cooperation 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).

In order to reach emigrants, emails were also sent to the consulates of countries with a strong presence of Portuguese emigrants and advertisements taken out in newspapers with large readership among emigrant communities.

In addition to these initiatives, 6 million copies of the Guia TDT (DTT guide) were distributed nationwide to all homes and businesses, explaining the steps required to complete migration and giving information about the financial support available. ICP-ANACOM also distributed 3.3 million copies of Notícias TDT (DTT News).

In partnership with DECO, 100 information sessions were held across the country, aimed at the general public and retailers, IPSS and Misericórdias.

These initiatives culminated in an advertising campaign conceived and produced following an international tender. The campaign was conducted using television, radio and outdoor media, also involving some press advertisements, and was conducted in three waves, preceding each switch-off phase, seeking to increase awareness about DTT and to alert people to the need to migrate.

The migration process was implemented over a period of almost a year, although most people migrated to the new technology within a very short period of four months - between January and April 2012.

Based on data available after the switch-off, the results obtained show that the migration proceeded positively, with the overwhelming majority of the population adequately prepared for the transition. According to the number of contacts made to the DTT helpline after the switch-offs were completed, the percentage of the population that did not prepare for the change was very small - less than 1% of people were left unable to watch TV because they had failed to prepare. Naturally, these situations tended to be resolved in the days following the switch-off.

Despite the satisfactory way in which the migration process proceeded, ICP-ANACOM's activity in relation to DTT did not end on 26 April with the switch-off of analogue transmitters. Throughout 2012, about 200 local monitoring actions were conducted to measure the quality of the DTT signal across the country (a range of measurements were taken at each site). These actions showed that in the majority of cases (about 60%), the problems encountered were due to defective installation in user homes. Deficiencies were identified and reported for subsequent remedy.

In terms of decisions, ICP-ANACOM's activity regarding DTT was intense. On 23 March, during the final stages of the switch-off, ICP-ANACOM decided to amend the two programmes to support people migrating to DTT, i.e., the equipment subsidy program and the reimbursement programme associated with satellite coverage (DTH), which form an integral part of the right of use frequencies allocated to PTC in December 2008.

As such, approval was given to the allocation by PTC of a new subsidy (of 61 euros) for the adaptation of installations to receive the DTT or DTH signal. This subsidy can be requested by the beneficiaries living in situations of social isolation (as registered with Social Security). Beneficiaries could apply for the subsidy until 31 August 2012, with the subsidies to support the acquisition of digital broadcasting reception equipment - corresponding to 50% of the price of the DTT or DTH set-top-box (with a limit of 22 euros) - extended to the same date.

On the same date, ICP-ANACOM decided to amend the reimbursement program reducing the value of DTH Kit to 30 euros after reimbursement (in line with the average price of DTT set-top boxes and ensuring equivalence in the costs of migration between those residing in the DTH zone and those residing in the DTT zone). Under this programme, applicants could choose one of the following procedures:

• Acquisition of equipment at full value (77 euros), with subsequent reimbursement for the amount specified (i.e. 47 euros).
• Order equipment and, after verification by PTC of the necessary requisites (for which PTC is given five working days), collect the equipment upon payment of only 30 euros.

Approval was given to the extension of this reimbursement to the first additional set-top box.

However, as take-up of subsidies remained low, on 23 August, ICP-ANACOM decided to extend the programme until 31 December 2012, while maintaining the price payable for the installation of the system in areas receiving DTH (where performed by installers indicated by PTC). In December, for the same reasons and also because the DTT network was not yet fully stabilized and optimized, a draft decision was adopted to extend the deadline again, this time until 26 April 2013, which marks one year from the start of digital transmissions. The final decision was adopted in January 2013, but since the effects of the decision were made retroactive to 31 December 201, there was no interruption of subsidy programmes

In total, from the programmes' inception until 31 December 2012, 46 thousand beneficiaries applied for DTT subsidies and reimbursement, corresponding to the payment of 2.5 million euros from PTC, as detailed in the following table.

Source: ICP-ANACOM.

In May 2012, and because of an abnormal increase in the number of complaints about DTT, ICP-ANACOM had to take immediate steps to resolve the problems that people were experiencing. In fact, changes in weather conditions, giving rise to deficiencies in the conditions of signal propagation and creating difficulties in reception, led ICP-ANACOM to call on PTC to present solutions for rapid resolution.

As an overlay solution, PTC proposed installing three transmitters (at Lousã, Montejunto and Monte da Virgem), functioning, and by decision of 18 May 2012, ICP-ANACOM granted PTC a temporary license for a period of 180 days, with respect to the network constituted by these stations.

Meanwhile, it ordered the operator to optimize the technical characteristics of the network supported on channel 56, with a view to reducing self-interference zones, on a priority basis in areas not covered by the three new transmitters.

This temporary licence was renewed by decision of 16 November 2012, upon request of PTC, for a further 180 days. The objective - and since the solution made it possible to eliminate many of the existing difficulties, which is evidenced by a reduction in complaints - was to allow PTC to conclude technical interventions in the SFN network, with a view to full optimisation and stabilisation. Such interventions covered about 20% of PTC's DTT network and involved installing and refining the power of transmitters and turning some repeaters into transmitters.

In the same decision, PTC was ordered to present a final solution for the future, following termination of the temporary licence granted to the company. Following the solution proposed by PTC, ICP-ANACOM decided to conduct a public consultation on several scenarios for the future evolution of the DTT network.

The consultation was launched in January 2013, covering five scenarios, with identification of the advantages/disadvantages of each one, in terms of spectral efficiency and impact on the population.

In respect of DDT, note should also be made of the final report on the migration process, produced by GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group), chaired by ICP-ANACOM. This report was presented to the government in October, six months after the switch-off, concluding the Group's activity, in accordance with the Resolution of Council of Ministers which set up the GAM-TD (Resolution no. 26/2009, published on 17 March).

GAM-TD included representatives of ERC, television stations, subscription television service providers, consumer associations, DGC, Gabinete de Meios para a Comunicação Social (Media Office), Confederação de Meios da Comunicação Social (Media Confederation) and representatives of the equipment industry - AGEFE.

Altogether this group met 13 times between 2009 and 2012. At its various meetings, information was conveyed about the actions developed by ICP-ANACOM to ensure the completion of the migration process and suggestions and concerns were discussed.

The participation of these agents, which exceeded participation at plenary meetings, was essential to assess the effectiveness of the measures that were being taken and the impact had on the various sectors represented.