NDS, provider of end-to-end digital broadcasting systems, has won a $40m contract from NTL for digital terrestrial TV (DTV) networks in the UK, due on-air later this year. NDS will supply its System 3000 DTV video compression, modulating, multiplexing and transcoding systems, as well as work with NTL to provide support in a five year service contract. NDS has been selected by NTL, after NTL won two contracts to build and run digital terrestrial television networks for Digital 3 & 4 Ltd and for S4C/Channel 5/SDN. In the UK, digital terrestrial television will be broadcast within the existing UHF television frequency bands using 2K OFDM carrier transmission. Six frequency channels with 24.13 Mbit/s data capacity are available for digital use in most areas of the country, each channel carrying a multiplex of up to ten services. On March 25, 1998, NTL was awarded two contracts worth $400m for the construction and operation of digital terrestrial TV networks in the UK.
