natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Also, a mixed solution combining different platforms could be envisaged [12].
Da bi Španija zagotovila preklop z analogne na digitalno televizijo, je v okviru postopka digitalizacije v obdobju 2005–2008 sprejela vrsto regulativnih ukrepov, ki so zadevali prizemno omrežje, kot je opisano v oddelku 2.2.
However, in the case of terrestrial broadcasting, the scarcity of frequencies remains an issue even after digitisation.
Špansko ozemlje je bilo razdeljeno na tri različna območja:
This is illustrated by the fact that shortly after the termination of the switch-over from analogue to digital TV in April 2010, the Spanish government had to relocate broadcasters from the 800 MHz band to another frequency band.
Območje I, ki je vključevalo veliko večino španskega prebivalstva in kjer so stroške preklopa nosili izdajatelji televizijskega programa – 96 % ozemlja za zasebne izdajatelje televizijskega programa in 98 % za javne izdajatelje televizijskega programa.
The relocation of DTT multiplexes assigned to broadcasters led to additional costs and additional state aid, which the Commission is currently examining in a formal investigation procedure [13].
Ker so stroške nosili izdajatelji televizijskega programa, državna pomoč ni bila potrebna.
With regard to TV broadcasting, terrestrial digital transmission could be replaced in the future by broadband technology, as next generation broadband networks (NGA) are likely to become the leading transmission technology.
Območje II – manj urbanizirana in oddaljena območja, ki so zajemala 2,5 % prebivalstva, ki je javne in zasebne kanale v preteklosti prejemalo prek analogne prizemne televizije.
For the time being, however, in Spain the geographical coverage of such NGA networks in not universal.
Ker pa preklop na digitalno tehnologijo zahteva posodobitev obstoječih centrov za razpošiljanje signala in gradnjo novih, so bile potrebne znatne naložbe v prizemno omrežje.
In Spain there are today four broadcasting platforms:
Zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa niso imeli dovolj velikega tržnega interesa, da bi zagotavljali storitve na območju II, zato niso hoteli nositi stroškov digitalizacije.
DTT — digital terrestrial technology (DBV-T), satellite (DBV-S), cable (DVB-C) and IPTV.
Španski organi so zato vzpostavili preiskovano shemo državne pomoči za posodobitev obstoječih centrov za razpošiljanje signala in gradnjo novih, s čimer so želeli zagotoviti, da bodo prebivalci, ki so do takrat prejemali zasebne in javne kanale prek analogne prizemne televizije, še naprej prejemali vse kanale prek digitalne prizemne televizije.
DTT is the main platform for the free-to-air public and private Spanish channels [14].
Ta postopek je bil splošno znan kot „razširitev pokritja digitalne prizemne televizije“ (tj. razširitev pokritja digitalne prizemne televizije nad obseg, obvezen za komercialne izdajatelje televizijskega programa).
The main operator of the terrestrial network is Abertis, which also controls the satellite operator Hispasat.
Območje III – kadar zaradi topografije televizijskih storitev ni mogoče zagotavljati prek prizemne platforme in se ta zato zagotavlja prek satelita.
There are also a number of local telecommunications operators carrying DTT signals, which are usually interconnected with Abertis' national network.
Prenos nekodiranih televizijskih signalov na območju III zagotavlja Hispasat.
As for the pay TV channels, they are broadcast mainly via satellite, cable and IPTV.
Ker se televizijske storitve zagotavljajo prek satelita, morajo potrošniki nositi nekatere stroške, kot so stroški nakupa satelitskih krožnikov in dekodirnikov.
Astra and Hispasat are the main satellite operators
OPIS POMOČI
To address the process of digitisation, in order to switch from analogue to digital television, in 2005-2008 Spain adopted a series of regulatory measures that concerned the terrestrial network, as described in the section 2.2.
Preiskovana shema temelji na večplastnem sistemu pravnih določb, ki so jih centralni španski organi uvedli leta 2005.
They divided the Spanish territory into three distinct areas:
Na podlagi teh določb so avtonomne skupnosti in mestni sveti v letih 2008 in 2009 dodelili državno pomoč za uporabo digitalne prizemne televizije na območju II ter prejemnikom dodelili sredstva iz centralnega proračuna in svojih proračunov.
Area I — including the vast majority of the Spanish population, where the costs of switchover were borne by the broadcasters — 96 % of the territory for private broadcasters, and 98 % for public broadcasters.
Poleg tega avtonomne skupnosti od leta 2009 dodeljujejo stalno pomoč za vzdrževanje in upravljanje omrežij na območju II.
As broadcasters bore the costs, there was no need for state aid.
Prehod na digitalno televizijsko tehnologijo se je začel zakonsko urejati po sprejetju Zakona 10/2005 z dne 14. junija 2005 [15].
Area II — less urbanised and remote areas covering 2.5 % of the population who in the past received public and private channels via analogue terrestrial television.
V njem sta omenjena potreba po spodbujanju prehoda z analogne na digitalno prizemno tehnologijo in zahteva, naj vlada sprejme ustrezne ukrepe za zagotovitev tega prehoda.
However, as the switch to digital technology requires upgrading of the existing transmission centres and building of new ones, significant investments in the terrestrial network were necessary.
Po tej zahtevi je Svet ministrov s Kraljevo uredbo 944/2005 odobril nacionalni tehnični načrt, v katerem je bil kot datum za izklop analogne radiodifuzije v Španiji določen 3. april 2010 [16].
The private broadcasters did not have sufficient commercial interest in providing the service in Area II and refused to bear the costs of digitisation.
V zvezi z območjema II in III pa je v dvanajsti dodatni določbi nacionalnega tehničnega načrta že določena možnost, da lahko lokalni in regionalni organi razširijo pokritje na 96–100 % prebivalstva.
The Spanish authorities therefore established the state aid scheme under investigation, for upgrading the existing transmission centres and building new ones, in order to ensure that the residents, who until then had received private and public channels via analogue terrestrial TV, would continue to receive all the channels via DTT.
V zvezi s tem tehnični načrt izrecno omenja digitalno prizemno televizijo in določa šest pogojev, pod katerimi bi lahko lokalni organi izvedli tako razširitev.
This process was commonly referred to as ‘DTT coverage extension’ (i.e. extension of coverage of DTT above what was compulsory for the commercial broadcasters).
Pogoj (e) zahteva, da je lokalna namestitev v skladu s tehničnim načrtom za digitalno prizemno televizijo.
Area III — where due to the topography it is not possible to provide TV service via the terrestrial platform and it is therefore provided by satellite.
Svet ministrov je 7. septembra 2007 zato odobril Nacionalni načrt prehoda na digitalno prizemno televizijo (v nadaljnjem besedilu: načrt prehoda) [17], ki izvaja nacionalni tehnični načrt.
The transmission of free-to-air TV signals in Area III is provided by Hispasat.
V načrtu prehoda je bilo špansko ozemlje razdeljeno na devetdeset projektov tehničnega prehoda [18], za vsakega od katerih je bil določen rok za izklop analogne radiodifuzije.
The fact that the TV service is provided through satellite entails costs for consumers, who have to acquire satellite dishes and set-top boxes.
Ministrstvo za industrijo, turizem in trgovino (v nadaljnjem besedilu: MITT) je 29. februarja 2008 sprejelo sklep, katerega namen je bil izboljšati telekomunikacijsko infrastrukturo ter določiti merila in razporeditev financiranja ukrepov za razvoj informacijske družbe v okviru načrta Avanza za leto 2008 [19].
DESCRIPTION OF THE AID
Proračun, odobren s tem sklepom, je znašal 558 milijonov EUR in je bil delno dodeljen za razvoj širokopasovne ter delno za digitalizacijo televizije na oddaljenih in manj urbaniziranih območjih v Španiji, za katera ne veljajo zakonske obveznosti komercialnih izdajateljev televizijskega programa [20].
The scheme being investigated is based on a complex system of legal provisions put in place by the Spanish central authorities as from 2005.
Digitalizacija v navedenih območjih je splošno znana kot „razširitev pokritja“.
On the basis of these provisions, state aid for the deployment of the DTT in Area II was granted in the years 2008-2009 by the Autonomous Communities and town councils, who channelled to the recipients the funds from the central budget and from their respective budgets.
Na podlagi sporazumov je MITT preneslo sredstva avtonomnim skupnostim, ki so preostale operativne stroške pokrile iz svojih proračunov.
Moreover, since 2009 ongoing aid has been granted by the Autonomous Communities for maintenance and operation of the networks in Area II.
Ti dodatki so vključevali tudi obveznost lokalnih organov, da upoštevajo dvanajsto dodatno določbo nacionalnega tehničnega načrta.
The regulation of the transition to digital television technology started when Law 10/2005 of 14 June 2005 was adopted [15].
Hkrati je Svet ministrov 17. oktobra 2008 privolil v dodelitev nadaljnjih 8,72 milijona EUR za razširitev in dokončanje pokritja z digitalno prizemno televizijo v okviru prehodnih projektov, ki naj bi se zaključili v prvi polovici leta 2009, tj. v fazi I načrta prehoda.
It mentions the need to promote a transition from analogue to digital terrestrial technology and required that the government take the appropriate measures to ensure this transition.
Financiranje je bilo dodeljeno po podpisu novih okvirnih sporazumov med MITT in avtonomnimi skupnostmi decembra 2008 (v nadaljnjem besedilu: okvirni sporazumi iz leta 2008).
Following this mandate, with Royal Decree 944/2005 the Council of Ministers approved the National Technical Plan, which fixed the date of the analogue switch-off in Spain for 3 April 2010 [16].
Ti sporazumi se sklicujejo na navedeno financiranje v vrednosti 8,72 milijona EUR in so bili poimenovani „Okvirni sporazum o sodelovanju med Ministrstvom za industrijo, turizem in trgovino ter avtonomno skupnostjo […] za razvoj Nacionalnega načrta prehoda na digitalno prizemno televizijo“.
As regards Area II and III, the Twelfth Additional Provision of the National Technical Plan already provided for the possibility that the local and regional authorities extend the coverage in the range between 96 % and 100 % of the population.
V njih je določen seznam dejavnosti, ki jih bodo centralni in regionalni organi financirali, da bi dosegli pokritje z digitalno televizijo, ki bi ustrezalo obstoječemu pokritju z analogno televizijo.
In this regard, the Technical Plan explicitly refers to digital terrestrial television (DTT) and establishes six conditions under which the local authorities could carry out such extension.
Te dejavnosti so povezane z uporabo digitalne prizemne televizije.
Condition (e) requires the local installation to be in conformity with the Technical Plan for digital terrestrial television.
Svet ministrov je 29. maja 2009 odobril merila za razdelitev 52 milijonov EUR za financiranje dejavnosti, povezanih s prehodom na digitalno prizemno televizijo, ki je namenjeno razširitvi pokritja projektov v fazah II in III načrta prehoda [22].
The Transition Plan divided the Spanish territory into ninety technical transition projects [18] and established a deadline for the switch-off of analogue broadcasting for each of these projects.
Dodatki k okvirnim sporazumom (navedeni v odstavku 29) so bili med oktobrom in decembrom 2009 nato objavljeni v španskem uradnem listu skupaj s financiranjem razširitve pokritja v fazah II in III načrta prehoda.
On 29 February 2008, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (hereinafter ‘MITyC’) adopted a decision aimed at improving the telecommunications infrastructures and establishing the criteria and the distribution of the funding of the actions aimed at developing the Information Society under the Plan Avanza for 2008 [19].
V teh dodatkih je „dejanje za razširitev pokritja“ opredeljeno z nedvoumnim sklicem zgolj na prizemno tehnologijo (čeprav druge tehnologije pri tem niso formalno izključene) [23].
The budget approved by this decision amounted to EUR 558 million and was partly allocated to development of broadband, and partly to digitisation of television in remote and less urbanised areas of Spain falling outside the statutory obligations of the commercial broadcasters [20].
Vlade avtonomnih skupnosti so začele izvajati razširitev po objavi okvirnih sporazumov iz leta 2008 in navedenih dodatkov [24].
Digitisation in those areas was commonly referred to as ‘extension of coverage’.
Javne razpise so organizirale same ali pa so za njihovo izvedbe zadolžile javno podjetje.
It was subsequently implemented through a series of addenda to existing framework agreements [21] signed by MITyC and the Autonomous Communities between July and November 2008 (‘the Addenda to the 2006 Framework Agreements’, published in the Spanish Official Gazette separately for each Autonomous Community.
Z MITT so se delno dogovorile za subvencije, ki so bile zato delno financirane iz centralnega proračuna, delno pa so jih financirale avtonomne skupnosti.
In most cases, the wording of these agreements points to digital terrestrial technology as the only technology to be funded.
V nekaterih primerih so avtonomne skupnosti za izvajanje razširitve pooblastile mestne svete.
As a result of the agreements, MITyC transferred funds to the Autonomous Communities, which undertook to cover the remaining costs of the operation from their budgets.
V državi sta na splošno potekali dve vrsti razpisov.
These addenda also included the obligation of the local authorities to comply with the provisions of the Twelfth Additional Provision of the National Technical Plan.
Prvi so bili razpisi za razširitev pokritja, kar je pomenilo, da je bila zmagovalna družba zadolžena za zagotavljanje (pogosto pa tudi gradnjo) operativnega omrežja digitalne prizemne televizije.
In parallel, on 17 October 2008, the Council of Ministers agreed to allocate a further EUR 8,72 million to extend and complete DTT coverage within the transition projects to be completed during the first half of 2009, Phase I of the Transition Plan.
Naloge, ki jih je bilo treba izvesti, so vključevale zasnovo in projektiranje omrežja, prenos signala, uporabo omrežja in dobavo potrebne opreme.
The funding was granted following the signing of new framework agreements between MITyC and the Autonomous Communities in December 2008 (‘the 2008 Framework Agreements’).
Druga vrsta so bili razpisi za dobavo strojne opreme, ki so bili organizirani za že obstoječa omrežja.
These agreements refer to the aforementioned financing of EUR 8,72 million and were entitled ‘Framework Collaboration Agreement between the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade and the Autonomous Community of […] for the Development of the National Plan for the Transition to DTT.’
Od zmagovalca razpisa se je pričakovalo, da bo omrežje posodobil s potrebno opremo, tj. da bo dobavil, namestil in aktiviral opremo.
They lay down a list of activities that will be financed by the central and regional authorities in order to achieve coverage of digital television equal to the existing analogue coverage.
Pri večini razpisov se organi, ki so jih organizirali, izrecno, tj. v opredelitvi predmeta razpisa [25], in/ali implicitno, tj. v opisu tehničnih specifikacij ali opreme, ki se bo financirala [26], sklicujejo na prizemno tehnologijo in digitalno prizemno televizijo.
These activities are related to the deployment of digital terrestrial television.
V nekaj primerih, ko je izrecno navedena satelitska tehnologija, se ti sklici nanašajo na satelitske krožnike za sprejem satelitskega signala prek prizemnih televizijskih oddajnikov [27] ali na opremo za dostop do digitalne televizije na območju III [28].
On 29 May 2009, the Council of Ministers approved the criteria for the distribution of EUR 52 million for the funding of DTT transition actions, aimed at financing the extension of coverage of the projects under Phases II and III of the Transition Plan [22].
Zelo malo razpisov za razširitev je tehnološko nevtralnih in razpisi ne izključujejo drugih tehnologij, ki niso digitalna prizemna televizija [29].
The agreement of the Council of Ministers established a direct link with the Transition Plan given that it stated that ‘in order to achieve the target set in the National Plan for Transition to DTT, namely a similar DTT coverage to that of the current terrestrial television coverage with analogue technology, the financial support of the public authorities is needed’ and then that ‘the implementation of this cooperation will be formalized within the framework set by the National Plan for the Transition to DTT’.
V razširitev na območje II je bilo v letih 2008 in 2009 vloženih skoraj 163 milijonov EUR iz centralnega proračuna (delno v obliki ugodnih posojil, ki jih je MITT dodelilo avtonomnim skupnostim [30]) ter 60 milijonov EUR iz proračunov 16 preiskovanih avtonomnih skupnosti.
Lastly, between October and December 2009, addenda to the Framework Agreements (mentioned in paragraph 29) were published in the Spanish Official Gazette, including the funding for the extension of the coverage of Phases II and III of the Transition Plan.
Poleg tega so mestni sveti financirali razširitev v vrednosti približno 3,5 milijona EUR.
These addenda define what should be understood by ‘action to extend the coverage’, by making explicit reference only to terrestrial technology (although not formally excluding other technologies) [23].
Kot drugi korak po razširitvi digitalne prizemne televizije na območje II nekatere avtonomne skupnosti od leta 2009 organizirajo dodatne razpise ali sklepajo ustrezne pogodbe brez razpisov za upravljanje in vzdrževanje opreme, ki je bila digitalizirana in se je uporabljala med razširitvijo.
Following the publication of the 2008 Framework agreements and above-mentioned addenda [24], the governments of the Autonomous Communities started implementing the extension.
V nasprotju s pomočjo za preklop ti ukrepi pomenijo stalno pomoč.
They either organised public tenders themselves or charged a public undertaking with carrying out of the tender.
Poleg tega te pogodbe niso tehnološko nevtralne, saj so namenjene upravljanju in vzdrževanju prizemnega omrežja, ki je bilo nameščeno na območju II.
The subsidies were partly agreed upon with MITyC and therefore funded from the central budget or partly funded by the Autonomous Communities themselves.
Skupni znesek sredstev, ki so bila v letih 2009–2011 dodeljena prek razpisov za upravljanje in vzdrževanje (stalna pomoč), je znašal vsaj 32,7 milijona EUR.
In certain cases the Autonomous Communities mandated the town councils to carry out the extension.
RAZLOGI ZA ZAČETEK POSTOPKA
As a general pattern, two types of tenders were launched throughout the country.
V odločitvi o sprožitvi postopka je Komisija najprej ugotovila, da se zdi, da opisani ukrep izpolnjuje vsa merila iz člena 107(1) in da ga je zato mogoče šteti za državno pomoč.
Firstly, there were tenders for the extension of coverage, which meant that the winning company was charged with the mission of providing (often building) an operative DTT network.
Ker trg radiodifuzije deluje na več ravneh, so bile v odločitvi o sprožitvi postopka opredeljene tri kategorije prejemnikov državne pomoči:
The tasks to be carried out included the design and engineering of the network, transport of the signal, deployment of the network and supply of the necessary equipment.
omrežni operaterji, (ii) dobavitelji strojne opreme, ki so sodelovali v razpisih za dobavo opreme, potrebne za razširitev, in (iii) izdajatelji televizijskega programa na televizijskih kanalih.
The other types of tenders were tenders for the supply of hardware, organised in the case of already existing networks.
Komisija je predhodno ugotovila, da je shema s financiranjem stroškov, povezanih z razširitvijo platforme digitalne prizemne televizije, morda ustvarila potencial za izkrivljanje konkurence ali dejansko izkrivljala konkurenco med ponudniki strojne opreme, dejavnimi pri različnih tehnologijah, ter med prizemnimi in satelitskimi platformami.
The winner of the tender was expected to upgrade it with the necessary equipment, i.e. supply, install and activate the equipment.
Komisija je v predhodni oceni menila, da ukrep pomeni državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU, in ni videla razlogov za njegovo združljivost z notranjim trgom, saj se pri njem ne bi moglo uporabiti nobeno odstopanje.
In most tenders the organising authorities refer explicitly, through the definition of the object of the tender [25] and/or implicitly, in the description of the technical specifications or the equipment to be financed [26], to terrestrial technology and DTT.
Za dodatne podrobnosti o dejstvih glej odločitev o sprožitvi postopka, ki naj se šteje kot bistveni del tega sklepa.
In the few cases where satellite technology is expressly mentioned, these references are to satellite dishes for the reception of the satellite signal on terrestrial towers [27] or equipment to access digital television in Area III [28].
PRIPOMBE ŠPANIJE
Very few tenders for extension are technologically neutral and they do not exclude technologies other than DTT [29].
SPLOŠNE PRIPOMBE
In total, in the years 2008-2009 almost EUR 163 million from the central budget (partly soft loans granted by MITyC to Autonomous Communities [30]), and EUR 60 million from the budgets of 16 Autonomous Communities investigated were invested in the extension to Area II.
Španija in avtonomne skupnosti so v odzivu na odločitev o sprožitvi postopka predložile številne argumente [31].
In addition, town councils funded the extension for around EUR 3,5 million.
Te bi bilo mogoče razdeliti v dve širši kategoriji.
As a second step after the extension of DTT to Area II, starting from the year 2009, some of the Autonomous Communities have been organising additional tenders, or have concluded relevant contracts without tenders, for the operation and maintenance of the equipment digitised and deployed during the extension.
Prvič, španski organi zagovarjajo neobstoj državne pomoči – ker gre za storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, ukrep ne pomeni pomoči, saj spada na področje javnih storitev javne radiodifuzije.
Unlike the aid for switch-over, the latter measures constitute ongoing aid.
Poleg tega ukrep ne daje nikakršnih prednosti.
As they are for the operation and maintenance of the terrestrial network as installed in Area II, these contracts are not technologically neutral either.
Ti argumenti so povzeti spodaj.
The total amount of funds granted through tenders for operation and maintenance (ongoing aid) in the years 2009-2011 was of at least EUR 32,7 million.
ODSOTNOST POMOČI
GROUNDS FOR INITIATING THE PROCEDURE
Storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena
In the decision to initiate the procedure, the Commission noted, firstly, that the measure described seemed to meet all the criteria of Article 107(1) and could, therefore, be regarded as state aid.
Po mnenju španskih organov omrežni operaterji zagotavljajo storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena v smislu sodbe Altmark [32].
As there are different levels in the broadcasting market, three categories of state aid recipients were identified in the opening decision:
Ker pa so za dejanja za razširitev pokritja odgovorne avtonomne skupnosti, je treba uporabo sodbe Altmark proučiti glede na posamezni primer, izpolnjevanje pogojev iz sodbe Altmark pa morajo dokazati avtonomne skupnosti same.
network operators, (ii) hardware suppliers participating in the tenders for supply of the equipment necessary for the extension and (iii) broadcasters of TV channels.
Najbolj natančne argumente je predložila Baskija, ki je digitalizacijo izvedla prek javne družbe Itelazpi S.A. (v nadaljnjem besedilu: Itelazpi).
The Commission reached the preliminary conclusion that by financing the costs associated with the extension of the DTT platform, the scheme might have created a potential or actual distortion of competition between hardware providers active in different technologies and between the terrestrial and the satellite platforms.
Odsotnost prednosti