National Grid Wireless' Wenvoe Site Kicks off Digital Switchover in Wales

07 June 2006

Technical work on digital switchover in Wales moves a major step forward this week with the construction of a 200 metre high temporary transmitter mast at Wenvoe, west of Cardiff to host equipment currently installed on the existing structure. This equipment transfer will enable technical work to be undertaken to upgrade the mast at Wenvoe as part of the preparations for digital switchover in the region in 2009. National Grid Wireless, one of the UK's leading providers of broadcast infrastructure, owns and operates the Wenvoe site and will oversee work at a number of other key broadcast sites around Wales.

The Wenvoe transmitter is the first of 1,154 sites across the UK that will be upgraded as part of the switchover programme, which is due for completion by the end of 2012. The digital switchover project is one of the biggest for the broadcast sector since the introduction of colour television in 1967.

National Grid Wireless is working closely with Digital UK, the organisation responsible for digital switchover in the UK, to ensure the seamless transition from analogue to digital television in Wales.

National Grid Wireless' CEO Steven Marshall and Emyr Hughes, Digital UK Regional Co-ordinator, were at the Wenvoe site as part of the ceremony to mark the beginning of work.

Steven Marshall said: "This event represents a key milestone along the road to digital switchover. This site is the beginning of a multi-million pound investment programme by National Grid Wireless and the broadcasters. Once the switchover programme in Wales is complete everybody will have access to digital TV - through their aerial, cable or satellite. We are pleased to be part of this project and we look forward to playing our part in its success.

Emyr Hughes of Digital UK, said: "It's fantastic to see the technical work for switchover in Wales getting underway. Wales already leads the UK in the take up of digital TV, and we will be the first UK Nation to complete the switchover process. Upgrading Wenvoe is just the start of a nationwide programme of work which will bring the benefits and additional choice of digital television to everyone."

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

About National Grid Wireless

National Grid Wireless is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid and is the leading independent provider of infrastructure to the mobile telecommunications operators in the UK.

National Grid Wireless is also one of two UK providers of terrestrial infrastructure for the transmission of analogue and digital television and radio broadcasts in the UK and as such achieves a 98% population coverage. In addition to the traditional analogue services, National Grid Wireless has a strong position in the growing digital television market, owning two of the six digital terrestrial television licences and providing infrastructure services to all the Freeview channels and the BBC and BSkyB.

About Digital UK

Digital UK was launched in September 2005 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation to lead the UK's switch to digital television. It operates a switchover information line for consumers (08456 50 50 50) and a website www.digitaluk.co.uk.

For further information:

Stephen Arnold
National Grid Wireless
+44 (0) 1926 416 870
+44 (0) 7803 887 288 (m)