Published: 2026-10-10
Why did digital TV change in Cyprus?
In one sentence: The old provider's (Velister) licence expired and its network was old and didn't broadcast HD, so Cyprus moved to DVB-T2 from Hellas Sat, the standard used across almost all of Europe.
What DVB-T and DVB-T2 are
DVB-T is the older digital terrestrial TV standard. DVB-T2 is the newer generation. According to Hellas Sat it offers:
- Better picture and sound, with HD support
- A more stable signal
- More efficient use of the radio spectrum, so room for more channels in future
Because the old provider's network ran without HD, reception requirements were different. The Department of Electronic Communications said Cyprus was one of the last countries in Europe that hadn't adopted HD.
The three main reasons
- The licence expired. Velister's licence expired and, according to the Department's deputy director, the provider showed no interest in continuing. The new licence went to Hellas Sat after an open tender.
- Old equipment. Velister's network had been running for more than 16 years. According to Hellas Sat, the ageing equipment could not guarantee continuous, safe operation.
- HD and spectrum. Europe has moved to DVB-T2 and the spectrum is used more efficiently.
2026 timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | The switch is postponed to 1 July because of technical issues and to give people buying equipment time (Philenews, 28/4) |
| 1 July | Hellas Sat officially starts DVB-T2. Many households lose channels |
| 6 July | The Department of Electronic Communications issues guidance on reception problems |
| 10 July | The old Velister network is switched back on for three months |
| 10 October | Second attempt: the private channels move to the new frequencies, gradually |
Why there were problems in July
According to officials (Philenews, 10 July), the problems were mainly caused by:
- Old antenna installations and worn cables. DVB-T2/HD carries more data and strains old wiring.
- Signal amplifiers (boosters) that don't cope well with the strong signal.
- Unsuitable or low-quality decoders that cannot receive DVB-T2.
- The wrong country setting on the device. The Department found that some decoders imported from Greece may need their region setting changed to another European region to tune automatically to the new frequencies.
- Installers who had tuned to Velister's old frequencies.
The Hellas Sat chief executive said the problems affected a share of households and that many people hadn't acted early. The Department's deputy director said: "We are a last-minute people."
What has changed since July
A Hellas Sat spokesperson said reception quality requirements for TVs and antennas have been lowered, that company teams visited households and fixed problems, and that problems in specific areas are being dealt with (for example dedicated transmitters for mountain villages and signal adjustment in Xylofagou and Xylotymbou).
What it means for you
If you haven't retuned yet, do it now. If your TV is old, a decoder is the cheapest solution. See what changes today and how to choose a decoder.
Frequently asked questions
What does DVB-T2 mean? Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial, second generation. It is the digital terrestrial TV standard used in Europe.
Who is Hellas Sat? The company that received the licence for the new commercial digital terrestrial TV network in Cyprus.
Will there be more channels? The technology allows it, but it depends on the broadcasters.
Sources: Hellas Sat FAQ, Philenews (28/4, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 8/10/2026).
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