Romanian telecom regulator cancels bid for digital TV licenses

Romanian telecoms regulator ANCOM (The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania) has stopped the tender to award the country’s first two digital TV operation licenses, the state body has announced. Previously, the Government issued a decision which postponed the transition from analog to digital television until January 1, 2015. ANCOM stated it had not been consulted in the drafting of the decision. Seven companies had announced their participation in the tender. The regulator has said it had informed the seven of the cancellation and that they would be refunded the fee paid to obtain the terms of tender. The delay would put Romania even further behind the rest of the European Union as regards the adoption of digital television and access to broadband Internet, according to ANCOM president Catalin Marinescu. Mediafax