Cyprus households that rely on a rooftop or indoor antenna to receive television must upgrade their equipment before 1 May 2026 or lose their terrestrial TV signal entirely. As In-Cyprus reports, the island is moving from the Velister platform to a new digital broadcasting system operated by Hellas Sat, built on the more advanced DVB-T2 standard.

What Is Changing and Why

The transition replaces the older DVB-T technology used by Velister with DVB-T2, described by In-Cyprus as "currently the most modern European standard for terrestrial digital transmission." Most European countries have already made the same switch. DVB-T2 delivers superior picture quality, a greater number of available channels, and more efficient use of broadcast frequencies compared to the legacy system.

Hellas Sat was authorised to build and operate the new commercial network following a formal tender conducted by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, giving the transition an official regulatory footing.

Who Is Affected

The changeover is relevant only to viewers who receive their signal through an antenna. Subscribers to cable or satellite services are not affected and do not need to take any action. For antenna users, the clock is ticking: both the old Velister signal and the new Hellas Sat signal have been broadcasting simultaneously since 30 March 2026, giving households a one-month window to update their setup before the Velister signal is switched off on 30 April.

What Viewers Need to Do

The action required depends on the equipment already in use:

  • DVB-T2 compatible televisions: No new hardware is needed. Viewers simply perform a channel rescan on their existing set to pick up the new signal.
  • Older televisions without DVB-T2 support: Viewers must either purchase a DVB-T2 set-top box — an affordable external decoder that connects to any TV — or replace their television with a DVB-T2 compatible model.

Consequences of Missing the Deadline

Households that have not upgraded their equipment by the end of April will no longer be able to receive terrestrial broadcasts from 1 May onwards. There is no grace period beyond the 30 April cutoff. Viewers who are unsure whether their television supports DVB-T2 are advised to check the device specifications or consult their retailer before the deadline passes.

With less than two weeks remaining, authorities are urging antenna-dependent households to act promptly to avoid an interruption to their service.