Finnish broadcaster Digita achieved 99.99 percent radio and television network availability in 2017, according to its COO, Markus Ala-Hautala. Barring a few individual cases, its transmission networks have functioned normally despite heavy snow in early 2018 causing severe power cuts, especially in the Kainuu region. The COO said Digita’s strength is its unique infrastructure and diverse expertise in grid design, construction, monitoring and maintenance.
Digita’s 38 main base stations have experienced no broadcast interruptions since the start of the year, said Ala-Hautala. Its key systems are backed up by redundancy and the main stations are equipped with reserve power generators that are activated during exceptional weather conditions. It has prepared for the situation in Kainuu by transferring reserve generators from other areas to the region’s supplementary broadcasting stations, among other measures.
Digita takes responsibility for information dissemination in every situation. The COO advised the public to keep a battery-powered radio available at home, and to use a car radio to listen to the news.