Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Three hundred ninety-three small villages out of total 5,289 villages in the country do not broadcast digital television at the moment. This was announced by representatives of the company that has developed the network of digital television and radio " NURTS Bulgaria", during a meeting of the Public Council on Digital TV. Three hundred thirty-seven of the villages without digital terrestrial coverage have fewer than 200 inhabitants.

About 100,000 people live in these areas, and at the moment the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications has not received information by the competent authorities as to the nuber of people who rely on analog television and whether they watch channels in an alternative way - via satellite or cable.

Villages with more than 2,000 people have significantly better coverage of digital signal than before September 30, when analogue TV was broadcasted as well, said the representatives from NURTS. BNT and Nova TV channels, for example, reach many more people than before.

Data presented from " NURTS Bulgaria" should be officially confirmed by the institution that controls the telecommunications companies - Commission for Communications Regulation. Once provided, the information will be analyzed in order to propose measures to ensure access to digital television for people from villages which currently have no signal.