KPN has received a new license for digital terrestrial television, valid until 1 February 2030. The operator will continue to provide the Digitenne TV service. Spectrum regulator Agentschap Telecom announced that KPN unit Digitenne BV, as the current licensee for digital terrestrial television, will retain the right to use those frequencies (DVB-T). The current license will expire on 31 January 2017. The new one will go into effect from 1 February 2017 and last 13 years.
The license was going to get distributed by Telecom Agency in an auction from 4 July. The other participant, however, withdrew at the last minute. KPN will get the license for zero euros.
It is not made clear why the participant withdrew. This may be because the new licensee had to, from day one, provide virtually nationwide coverage and an offer for existing customers of terrestrial channels. The period between the auction and the start of the new license is only 7 months, with the need for cooperation with KPN.
KPN said the license decision will guarantee continuity of service for hundreds of thousands of users. The carrier wants DVB to further develop based on DVB-T2, along iTV and KPN Play. DVB-T will be replaced in a few years.
