DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial) allows viewers to watch more channels with better quality of sound and picture compared to analog television broadcasting.

In analog television broadcasting each program is aired on a separate frequency. In DVB-T one frequency (one multiplex) could carry 8 MPEG-4 SD TV programs on average – depending on quality and format.

Digital terrestrial television is free for the viewers. In order to receive DVB-T signal, they need to have either a TV set with a DVB-T tuner or a set-top-box. The tuner (set-top-box) has to support MPEG-4, H.264 AVC format. MPEG-2 set-top-boxes could not be used for decoding of DVB-T signal in Bulgaria.

Most of the countries in Europe and  the world have already switched to digital terrestrial broadcasting or are in a transition period.

The transition from analog to digital terrestrial broadcasting in Bulgaria will take place in two stages. The first stage has started on 01.03.2013 – digital and analog TV programs are aired simultaneously for 6 months. On 01.09.2013 starts the second stage of the process – all analog TV transmitters will be shut down for good and from then on the terrestrial TV broadcasting in Bulgaria will be digital only.

For more information about DVB-T in Bulgaria – national telephone line +359 700 12344.

web site:  www.cifrovizacia.bg

NURTS Digital

NURTS Digital JSC is a sister company of NURTS Bulgaria JSC and successor of Towercom Bulgaria JSC. Prior to the change of its name and ownership, Towercom Bulgaria was owned by Towercom Slovakia – successor of Rádiokomunikácie, o.z. Slovak Telekom, a.s – the incumbent tower company in Slovakia.

NURTS Digital JSC is licensed to set up and operate two digital terrestrial television networks with national coverage for a 15-year term (Decisions №358 and №359 from 08.04.2009 of the Bulgarian Communications Regulation Commission).

Tehchnical specifications of DVB-T in Bulgaria:

Standard – DVB-T

Frequency band – UHF

Modulation – COFDM 64QAM

Guard interval – 1/4

FEC= 3/4

Polarization – Vertical

Video coding – MPEG-4

Audio coding SD channels – MPEG-1 Layer II

Audio coding HD channels – HE AAC

Coverage maps: