The loss of the Express-AM4 communication satellite earlier this month has exposed the substantial difficulties facing the deployment of the DVB-T broadcasting network in Russia. Made by EADS Astrium, Express-AM4 satellite was equipped with transponders operating in C-, Ku-, Ka- and L-bands. These transponders were designed to provide DVB-T broadcasting and broadband Internet coverage across the Russian territory as well as in the former Soviet republics and Central European countries.
But even more serious concerns have appeared regarding the deployment of the head end network on the ground.
At the end of the first half of 2011, the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS) had deployed just 4 head ends out of the 45 ones planned for 2011. The news was reported by ComNews.ru, a website covering telecom and IT issues, referring to the Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications (Rospechat).
RTRS has also been criticized for the lack of clarity of its rules for the creation of digital broadcasting networks. No final decision has been made yet on the composition of the TV package, the number of standard and HD channels, or the strategic alternative to the DVB-T or DVB-T2 standards for broadcast transmission.
The terrestrial fiber networks provided by Rostelecom and TTK could be used instead of satellites for digital TV broadcasting. But in the absence of a head end network, the signal simply cannot reach households.
Russian authorities initially planned for the switchover from analog to digital broadcasting to be accomplished in four stages with completion in 2013.
