From 2020 the new digital terrestrial will arrive, here's how to check if your TV supports the new standard required
Digital terrestrial made its debut ten years ago, procuring the exit from the scene of analog TV and giving way to a wider range of opportunities and services. The technology is preparing to live a new phase: in 2020 will debut the new generation of digital terrestrial television that will revolutionize the way we watch television, expanding the offer.
Many users are already preparing to welcome the novelty. The protocol is called dvb-t2 and its arrival is linked to another important revolution, that of the 5G network. Just like the fast connection, the new technology will work only on suitable devices. Many consumers are therefore already wondering how to find out if their TV is compatible with the new digital terrestrial. Is it necessary to buy a new device or is it enough to update the one already in use? It is necessary to know how to answer these questions and adapt within the year, in order to be ready to welcome the new digital terrestrial television.
New digital terrestrial television: what it is all about
The arrival of the latest generation of digital terrestrial television is just around the corner. We are ready to live a new era, that of dvb-t2. The novelty is regulated by Article 89 of the Budget Law 2018, which concerns precisely the allocation of the spectrum in accordance with the introduction of 5G. The Norm establishes that TV broadcasters will have to transfer frequencies on a different band than the one used today, and all this must be done by 2022. The band, once left free, can be occupied by telephone operators to spread the 5G.
Digital terrestrial 2020: when and which areas are affected
The spread of the new digital terrestrial will take place gradually in the different Italian territories. From January 1 to January 31, 2020 will affect Sardinia, Umbria, Lazio, Campania, Tuscany and Liguria. From June 1 to December 31, 2020 will spread in Lombardy (except Mantua and Province), Piacenza and province, Trentino Alto-Adige, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. From January 1 to June 30, 2021 it will involve the province of Catanzaro, Reggio Calabria, Sicily, Vibo Valentia and its province. The last areas affected, from 1 September to 31 December 2021 will be Veneto, the province of Mantua, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, Marche, Puglia and the province of Cosenza and Crotone.
Based on the period affected, each user must adapt their TV to the new digital terrestrial. Let's see how to do it.
Is your TV compatible with digital terrestrial?
To obtain this information you need to know the specifications of your TV set: it must have an integrated dvb-t2 decoder, and be compatible with the decoding of the h265/hevc standard aka High Efficiency Video Coding.
Usually, TVs purchased from 2017 onwards are compatible. In fact, by law all stores from that time were required to sell TVs with the latest generation decoder integrated. These devices also have a mark that communicates compatibility: it is a red sticker with the words Dgtvi Platinum. TVs bought more than four years ago are usually not compatible.
If the TV is compatible, you have to wait for the arrival of digital terrestrial to use it without problems. But what if there is no compatibility?
Tv not compatible with the new digital terrestrial: what to do?
In this case, there are two possibilities. The first one is to buy a decoder with dvb-t2 and hevc standard at a price of about 35 euros. The alternative is to buy a new TV with the certainty that it has all the credentials to support digital terrestrial. In fact, as we have already said, starting from 2017 the devices must by law support the new standard.
The Government has already approved facilities for the purchase of new decoders, giving priority to families exempt from the RAI fee due to low income. But to know more details we need to wait a few more months.