The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) has signed a one million pound contract with Arqiva in the United Kingdom, to provide a digital broadcasting network in Gibraltar. In lay person terms this means that a greater choice of programmes can be made available and additional broadcasters licenses could be obtained from Government. In more technical terms, the network will comprise two digital television multiplexes and two digital radio multiplexes. On each television multiplex Gibraltar will be able to transmit up to 6 distinct programmes. Similarly with digital radio, each multiplex allows for 4 distinct programmes. In 2006, during a digital planning conference organised by the International Telecommunication Union, the GRA successfully co-ordinated with Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Portugal the use of channels 30 and 56 for digital television and channel blocks 12B and 12C for digital radio. This means that if the change-over to digital is not finalised by 31st December 2012, GBC will go off the air. In a statement from the Government has said, “Despite many public statements to the contrary, the previous administration had not made any investment for the changeover to digital and the new government is having to pull out all the stops to make digital transmission a reality by the cut-off date of 31st December 2012. The transmitters will be located at a single site on the Upper Rock, thus minimising the environmental impact of the antenna and support structures which will replace the two television broadcasting sites of Signal Hill and O’Hara’s Battery.” The statement also assures that, “The digital broadcasting network will be operational by 31st December 2012, allowing Gibraltar to meet its international obligation to close down its analogue television transmissions by that date.” Unlike the change-over to digital television, there are no plans to convert FM radio to digital. Paul Canessa from the GRA said, “The Majority of people will not have to do anything as most of the people receive GBC via cable TV. How many people who do not have cable TV is yet to be assessed, but we think it will be a limited number of people. The Government will support and provide some assistance to these people, in time for the changeover.” The contractor, Arqiva, is a communications infrastructure and media services company and provides much of the infrastructure behind television, radio, satellite and wireless communications in the UK and has a significant presence in Ireland, mainland Europe and the USA. The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, who has ministerial responsibility for broadcasting said: “The quality of broadcasting in Gibraltar must improve and moving to a digital network is one of the many steps in the direction of the improvements necessary.”
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