After months of preparations digital television in the Netherlands is a fact. As from today after a series of try-outs, wireless digital television-programs can be received in an area which covers the cities of Amsterdam, Haarlem, Hilversum, Almere and Alphen aan den Rijn. To achieve this Digitenne has placed seven transmission masts. The pilot was done by a consortium of Dutch broadcasters and telecom and broadcast network providers. In this consortium were taking part telecom operator KPN Telecom, NOB, the Dutch broadcasting Facility and Nozema, the Dutch transmission operator. Digitenne, as this new company is called, has a license to operate digital terrestrial TV in the Netherlands. This license allows Digitenne to use 5 multiplexes which enables the company to offer 25 television channels and 16 radio channels. Subscribers of this service will pay a monthly charge of Euro 8.95 slightly lower than the average monthly charge for a cable connection.
Digitenne is aiming for a group of people that is satisfied with the best and most viewed channels. According to the wishes and demands of the customers, Digitenne can easily change the programs every few years in order to have the disposal of the best channels. In 2004 Digitenne can cover the rest of the Netherlands in order to connect the total amount of 6.6 million households on to the Digitenne network. Consumers said they are pleased to have the possibility of an alternative for cable TV which has almost a monopoly in Holland regarding delivering TV programs.
Telecom.paper asked Erik Jan Geelink about the strategy of Digitenne. "What we do is offer an alternative to consumers. We did a lot of research and found out people needed that. There was no alternative to cable or ADSL to receive TV programs, now there is. Next to that we offer mobility. You can take your TV set wherever you want as long as you take your antenna with you. In the near future TV sets will be produced with a built in Digitenne connection. So we aim at flexibility."
Telecom.paper: But Digitenne offers no two way system so you can watch TV and surf on the internet with the same device?
Erik Jan Geelink: "No not yet. We decided to start low key. So there is no interactivity yet. We wait for this until Digitenne has proven to be successful."
