REUTERS
Yet, about 40% of analogue transmitters will be in operation until the end of 2018.
Ukraine's National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council says Ukraine's analogue TV signal will be switched off as of today, August 31, and will be replaced by the digital one.
"The Cabinet of Ministers by Resolution No. 509 dated June 13, 2018, amended the plan for the use of Ukraine's radio frequency resource regarding the timing of the use of analogue TV broadcasting technology. So, on August 31, 2018, analogue TV signals will be switched off across the country. A month ago, on July 31, the analogue radio signal was disconnected in Kyiv and Kirovohrad regions," the Council said in a statement.
Read alsoShare of Ukrainian broadcasts in Donbas, Crimea in state language to reach 75%
At the same time, analogue broadcasting will be available until December 31, 2018, in the areas bordering Russia, as well as will be used by the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) and local television companies that do not have digital licenses. The corresponding decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday, August 29.
According to Chairman of the National Council Yuriy Artemenko, about 40% of analogue transmitters will be in operation until the end of 2018.
"As of July 1, 2018, there were 1,881 analogue transmitters in operation without taking into account the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the occupied territories [in Donbas, eastern Ukraine]. Sixty transmitters were turned off on August 1 in Kyiv and Kirovohrad regions," he said.
Artemenko also noted that 1,063 transmitters would be switched off on September 1 completely, while 25 transmitters will be disconnected partially.
He added that according to the plan for the use of Ukraine's radio frequency resource, the operation of 147 transmitters would continue under an analogue license in areas with a special regime of broadcasting, as well as another 21 on the basis of temporary broadcasting permits.
"Thus, 758 transmitters, accounting for 40% of the total number of еру analogue transmitters, will continue to operate until the end of this year," Artemenko said.
Disconnecting the analogue signal will affect those Ukrainians who watch TV via aerial antennas. Those who use cable, satellite or Internet TV have nothing to worry about, as all channels will continue to work. The rest will have to connect to free T2 digital terrestrial television, which allows watching about 30 Ukrainian TV channels. Almost every modern TV set has a built-in DVB-T2 receiver. So, one will only have to connect it to the antenna and set it up. For old models, users will have to buy a T2 tuner (at a price starting from as low as UAH 400/US$14) and attach it to a TV set.
There are about 5 million households in Ukraine using analogue terrestrial TV (37.5% of all the users). According to experts, most of them have access to other ways of receiving a signal. However, the most vulnerable in this regard are residents in rural areas.