‘Digital television is going to be introduced in Sverdlovsk Region soon. One of its unique characteristics is that it is capable of immediately receiving signals with the help of a portable digital set-top box,’ Head of Rossvyaznadzor in Sverdlovsk Region Vladimir Zhernov announced at the press conference.

As regards statistics, 50% of the region’s population normally watch no more than six channels. The arrival of digital TV is expected to raise the number of regularly viewed channels and provide a more equal information distribution throughout the city. This is going to work in the following way: the consumers will have their digital set-top boxes (available for $70-$120) installed in their homes; these set-top boxes will be responsible for receiving signals and transmitting them onto the screen. The devices are portable and can both receive and send information, which means they can also be used for getting access to the Internet.

The preliminary testing of digital television in Yekaterinburg will start in the first three months of 2007.

One bad thing about the project is that its implementation requires a number of by-laws. The services offered by digital TV are currently outside the scope of the existing licensing agreement. ‘All the legal issues will have been dealt with by the end of the first quarter of 2007,’ says Mr Zhernov.