Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Telecomunications

Cibla Mayor Juris Dombrovskis' comment, that many residents were mentioning that their television sets were receiving clearer TV signal before they were equipped with Lattelecom decoders, cannot be true, because digital signal cannot be of better or worse quality – "it either is or is not," explained Stokmane.

Lattelecom and Latvijas Valsts radio un televizijas centrs (Latvian State Radio and Television Center, LVRTC), the infrastructure developers, can assert that free national television programs are available to 99.99% of Latvia's household, provide that they have the necessary end-equipment and wish to watch these programs. The digital signal can be picked up in a territory 20% larger than the previous – analogue – equipment could cover.

If someone has complaints about the quality of signal or that there is no signal, he or she should call Lattelecom customer service line 177, where the operator will explain what needs to be done to watch digital TV.

Lattelecom and LVRTC experts are always on hand to visit any given area to check signal strength. So far, no problems with the signal have ever been established.

"Given the multiple speculation of late, especially concerning the referendum, about the availability of national television channels in the border area, and that we are tired of explaining that they are not true, Lattelecom crews together with LVRTC experts plan to visit the so-called problem areas, and make sure firsthand that everything is in order," said Stokmane.