Cyprus restores previous television platform after digital switchover issues

On July 1, Cyprus transitioned to a new DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television system managed by Hellas Sat, replacing the older Velister platform. The switch resulted in widespread signal loss and approximately 400 consumer complaints regarding technical failures, installation costs, and equipment compatibility. Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou admitted the first phase of the transition failed to meet expectations. While the government blamed the issues on inadequate internal domestic installations, Hellas Sat CEO Christodoulos Protopapas noted that similar problems occurred during transitions in other countries and claimed only a small percentage of households were affected. To address the situation, the Department of Electronic Communications announced a three-month parallel operation of both Velister and the new DVB-T2 system. This move aims to allow consumers more time to adjust antennas, update decoders, or retune their televisions. The government confirmed that residents can currently tune their receivers to the frequencies used prior to June 30.