Bulgaria will officially carry out the analogue TV switch-off at a ceremony at the TV tower in Sofia on Monday.

According to latest data, only 75 000 Bulgarians of a total of 210 000 entitled to receive free digital TV decoders have obtained them.

The free decoders are given to people who received energy assistance last winter.

The requirement for digital signal coverage is 95% of the territory, but between 350 000 and 1 million people could be left with access to public TV broadcasts due to poor DTT coverage in the countryside.

The recent assessment was given by Veselin Bozhkov, head of the Commission for Communications Regulation (CRC), who added that despite this prospect the delayed digital switchover should be completed rather than put back again, with any problems being ironed out later.

Vouchers for free decoders will be distributed until October 30, and they will be valid until the end of November.

Bulgaria is currently involved in a long-running dispute with the EC over the controversial award of multiplex license.

Broadband TV News, in association with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, will be holding a Business Briefing in Sofia on Tuesday, October 1 in which these any many more issues will be discussed.