National Grid Wireless will take delivery of high efficiency transmitters at sites throughout the UK. The agreement forms an important part of the company’s involvement in the UK’s digital switchover programme taking place between 2008 and 2012.

Jim Colby director of network, operations and engineering at National Grid Wireless said: “Digital switchover is one of the largest broadcast engineering projects since the introduction of colour TV so it is crucial that the suppliers we choose share our commitment to delivering on time and on budget. This agreement also provides us with an ideal opportunity to take advantage of the latest energy efficient transmitter technology.”

National Grid Wireless’ sites require the installation of transmitter systems, using both air cooled and liquid cooled transmitters from 5W to 20KW. High power modules from the R&S Nx8600 series will feature in National Grid Wireless’ new digital network, which boast power efficiencies of 20% more than any other solid state solution on the market today. Rohde & Schwarz will also develop a control system for the input equipment that provides built-in redundancy to guarantee complete reliability of operation. Meanwhile, the provision of monitoring and control services over the length of the contract means that much of the project’s value will be realised in the UK.

Commenting on the agreement, Frank Mackel, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz UK said: “National Grid Wireless’ decision to award the contract to Rohde & Schwarz confirms the strength and breadth of our transmitter portfolio, especially with the addition of our highly energy efficient R&S Nx8600 transmitter range. It is also confirmation of the experience we have of delivering large scale broadcast installations. Rohde & Schwarz supplied high power transmitter equipment to National Grid Wireless for the UK’s first DVB-T project and has since become the preferred supplier for DAB transmitter systems in the UK and Ireland.”

With the UK’s digital switchover being phased in region by region, the first of the installations for National Grid Wireless will begin in 2008.

Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz is an independent group of companies specializing in electronics. It is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcasting, radiomonitoring and radiolocation as well as secure communications. Established 75 years ago, Rohde & Schwarz has a global presence and a dedicated service network in over 70 countries. It has approx. 7200 employees and achieved a net revenue of € 1.4 billion in fiscal year 2006/2007 (July 2006 to June 2007). Company headquarters are in Munich, Germany.

Press Contact:
Patricio Duenas

Contact information for readers:
Tel.: +44 1252 818 888, Fax: +44 1252 811 447, E-mail: sales@rsuk.rohde-schwarz.com

National Grid Wireless
National Grid Wireless is 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.National Grid Wireless is also the leading independent provider of infrastructure to the mobile telecommunications operators in the UK.

Press Contact:
Stephen Arnold

Contact information for readers:
Stephen Arnold tel: 01926 416 870 mob: 07803 887 288