On 24 October 2012, Ireland and the United Kingdom turned off the analogue television signal. Now the television services in both countries are fully digital.
In Ireland, the old TV network was replaced by a free-to-air digital terrestrial television service Saorview, operated by the public service broadcaster RTÉ. According to the estimations of the Department of Communications, up to 100,000 households had not yet switched to digital TV.
In UK, the digitisation process was run by Digital UK, broadcasters and transmission company Arqiva. Northern Ireland was the last region to turn off the analogue TV. The free digital television services are provided via Freeview platform. Closure of the old analogue TV network freed up space for mobile broadband services. Ofcom will start the process of auctioning the Digital Dividend at the end of 2012.
Press release of the Irish Department of Communications
National websites on digital switchover:
UK: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/
Ireland: http://www.goingdigital.ie/