Digital switchover - Change for the better

The closure of the analogue TV network yesterday marks a significant milestone in the country’s development.

Many people may not have even noticed any change, while others will suddenly have found themselves without television.

It might seem strange that anybody was surprised by the development in view of the enormous publicity campaign that RTÉ waged to warn people of the forthcoming change.

Some may be nostalgic, as people would have been about the massive changes in systems of transportation. A number of people may have missed the aroma of horse manure on our streets, but most realised that change was for the better.

Many people yesterday probably remembered the novelty of the introduction of television, even though the quality of the initial black and white picture was extremely poor by today’s standards. Colour television was a monumental transition and now the full advent of a digital service is another great leap forward.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte talked yesterday of the “digital dividend” that the change will have for new broadcasting and telecommunication services. The closure of analogue network frees up “space for mobile broadband services”, he said.

This is a welcome development.