The Communications Regulator has confirmed plans to issue four licences for digital terrestrial television (DTT).
After a consultation, ComReg said it intended to issue one licence to RTE and three to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to enable services to start in 2008. It hopes to issue the RTE licence in the first half of next year.
The 12-year licences will cost €114,000 a year, but there will be a 50% discount up to July 2012. After that the full fee will apply, and it will be linked to inflation.
The BCI will hold a competition for contractors to operators the bundles of channels, known as multiplexes, licensed to it. RTE is required to provide a network equivalent to its current analogue network.
ComReg says DTT 'creates the potential for more programme services, greater interactivity and an overall enhanced television viewing experience'.
