Norkring and NTV Enter Transmission Network Agreement

Norkring and NTV enter transmission network agreement

has chosen Norkring AS as a full-range supplier of the digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) network for television in Norway. The agreement involves development and operation of the transmission network for 15 years.

NTV has also entered a general agreement with Telenor Broadcast regarding development and operation of the service platform. The service platform consists amongst other things of encoding of pictures and sound, multiplexing, conditional access, electronic program guide and quality assurance of set-top-boxes. The operation agreement has a duration of 15 years.

As part of the transmission network contract Norkring will develop and operate the digital terrestrial transmission network for television in Norway. NTV will lease capacity from Norkring and sublet this capacity to NRK and pay-TV company NTV Pluss AS.

"The Norwegian digital terrestrial network for television will be one of the largest networks ever built in Europe. Norkring is now looking forward to the implementation," CEO Norkring, Nils-Jørgen Felledal says.

The digital transmission network will be developed in stages, one region at the time. The last region is due for completion bythe end of 2009. The first regions will be completed during fall 2007.

NTV has earlier carried out an international competitive tendering among potential suppliers. After a thorough assessment Norkring was summer 2004 considered the best candidate.

"Norkring has substantial competence on the terrestrial network in Norway and it is therefore reassuring that Norkring is responsible for the development," CEO NTV, Svein Aarvik says.

The transmission network agreement consists of three main elements: The basis network will cover 95 percent of the Norwegian households. In addition Norkring will develop a satellite shadow network. This network is being developed in order to cover households outside the coverage area of the basis network and households that do not have satellite coverage. The transmission network agreement also includes an option for additional two multiplexes.

For further information:

Norkring AS

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