Portuguese government to provide DTT subsidies

The Portuguese government has provided assurances it will subsidize groups with limited financial resources, citizens with special needs and social institutions in order to ensure that everyone has access to digital terrestrial television (DTT). The announcement was made by the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Antonio Mendonca, during the presentation of the first public awareness campaign about the Portuguese analogue switch-off and final transition to digital terrestrial in April 2012. However, he declined to provide details about the subsidies to be allocated. Previously, the government had said that people with a disability level of at least 60 percent, those with social security help or pensions less than EUR 500 would be entitled to reimbursement of about 50 percent of the cost of decoders.