The analogue terrestrial television broadcasts will cease in the Azorean archipelago next Thursday on March 22. The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures is thus accomplishing a goal established several years ago, which was to include the archipelago in the transition to digital terrestrial television.

One should remind that a protocol was signed between the Regional Government, the National Government and ANACOM on November 5, 2005 in order to allow free access to general channels (RTP1, RTP2, SIC and TVI in addition to RTP Açores); it also stipulated a gradual transition from analogue to digital technology.

This solution has allowed the access of more than 20 thousand Azorean households to national general channels free of charges. The investment required for the implementation of this project was subsidised for a year by both governments.

Moreover, the Government of the Azores demanded at the time that the protocol should include the coverage of the Azorean territory by Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) under the same conditions as in Mainland Portugal.

The Regional Government is pleased that, after six years, DTT reaches the Azores with a coverage higher than originally planned, being the result of the actions undertaken by regional authority among Portugal Telecom. The area west of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, the municipality of Nordeste, the municipality of Praia da Vitória and the area west of Faial were not initially planned to have DTT coverage; however, this technology will reach these areas.
 
As ANACOM has informed in the media, citizens who currently have analogue terrestrial television should prepare themselves with the necessary technical devices.

There are several solutions available in the Azores for accessing national general channels and RTP Açores without monthly payment.
 
The number of available solutions is dependent on the location and initial investment costs may depend on the model adopted.

For example, Horta citizens have four available solutions for accessing the five channels without monthly payment. They may do so through several solutions: DTH (satellite) services provided by Zon Açores, Zon Açores cable television, DTT provided by PT and DTH, also provided by PT (DTT via satellite). In this city, there are also other options with monthly payments; the services are operated by Zon Açores (cable and satellite) or by MEO/PT (cable and satellite).

In turn, Nordeste inhabitants will have three solutions without monthly payments: DTH provided by Zon Açores, DTT provided by PT and DTH operated by PT (DTT via satellite).  There are also other solutions with monthly payments as in Horta; the services are operated by Zon Açores (cable and satellite) or by MEO/PT (cable and satellite).
 
Thus, Nordeste has six solutions available and Horta has eight solutions for accessing DTT with and without monthly payments.

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is a digital television system broadcast by hertzian or terrestrial means and is based on the DVB-T rule. This system replaces the current analogue terrestrial system.