DIGITAL TELEVISION : SWEDEN'S DIGITAL PLATFORM OPERATOR DID NOT RECEIVE ILLEGAL AID.

Teracom, Sweden's state-controlled terrestrial network operator, did not receive subsidies in breach of EU rules on state aid at the time a terrestrial digital TV platform was set up in that country. The European Commission responded thus, on 21 December, to complaints alleging illegal state aid. Teracom's competitors had argued that the firm had been given an unfair advantage compared to other types of digital broadcast platforms such as cable or satellite.

The Commission launched its investigation in 2004. According to its detractors, Teracom allegedly received excessive payments for its broadcast services from the public television and radio broadcaster SVT, along with a capital injection and state credit guarantees.

The Commission concluded, however, that the remuneration paid by SVT for the transmission services was in line with market rates and thus did not constitute an unfair advantage. The Swedish government did not...