DVB-T in Italy

Italy is an amazing country. This also applies to Italian broadcasting. Because radio waves have no idea about country borders, there exist many international agreements on radio frequency usage. Terrestrial broadcasting is therefore very precisely regulated. Every single radio or television station has to be properly coordinated with all affected countries in order to prevent any possible interference. This means that every country has to obtain agreements for each and every station it wants to put into operation. No exceptions. Detailed procedures are stipulated in many agreements. Ignoring these rules means a quick way to trouble - causing interference to other stations. And Italy is very good in doing just this - causing severe interference to neighboring countries.

Italy systematically ignores all international agreements regarding radio frequency usage with emphasis on broadcasting. In terms of "normal" Europe, broadcasting in Italy is chaotic, a wild west. Every single frequency or channel is in operation regardless of whether Italy has the right to use it or not. DVB-T is no exception. And there is no sign that this will change.

As in many countries, a switchover from analog to digital television broadcasting will also happen in Italy. Although first digital broadcasting started almost 10 years ago and the official date for analog switch-off was set many times, there was always a reason to prolong it. According to law the Italian territory is divided into 16 parts or technical areas. For each area there is a deadline for the analog switch-off. In general, the deadline is either the first or the second semester of the year. In some areas the switch over process was already completed. For example, the Friuli Venezia Giulia province switched to digital in December 2010. More information about digital broadcasting in Italy can be found at L'Italia In Digitale.

Unfortunately, the switchover process was not used to clean the mess with illegal television broadcasting. Because of significant additional capacity possible with digital broadcasting, all existing Italian TV programs broadcasting in analog could easily be accommodated into digital multiplexes broadcasting on channels according to the Geneva 2006 agreement. Unfortunately, the Italian government decided to continue with ignorance and occupied all frequencies regardless whether Italy has right to use them or not. Typical for Italy.