Cyprus private television channels transition to new DVB-T2 frequencies

Starting Saturday, October 10, private television channels in Cyprus will begin migrating to new frequencies utilizing the European DVB-T2 digital broadcasting technology. This shift marks the second attempt to upgrade the country's television infrastructure after initial difficulties were reported during a summer rollout. Viewers are required to perform an automatic channel scan on their television sets to ensure continuous reception of broadcasts.

Petros Theocharides, a representative of Hellas SAT, clarified that the transition will be conducted in a phased manner to minimize disruptions. Rather than a total system shutdown on October 10, officials will first deactivate smaller transmitters serving limited areas to identify and address technical issues before proceeding to larger ones. The process aims to reach full completion before the Christmas holidays. To assist with the process, Hellas SAT and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy have provided online resources, including compatibility tools for household televisions.

The current transition features adjusted reception requirements, as all channels are now broadcasting in high definition. Despite ongoing efforts, authorities noted that a significant portion of the public has yet to retune their equipment. Efforts to stabilize the network are ongoing, with technical teams providing support to residents to prevent signal loss across the island.