MUMBAI: Netherlands has pulled the plug on transmission of free to air analogue television, becoming the first nation switching completely to digital signals.

Fewer than 75,000 households in the country relied on analogue antennae, although 220,000 still have second sets. They will require a small decoder to receive digital terrestrial television signals.

Former Dutch telecommunications monopoly KPN has licenced the former bandwidth used by analogue through 2017.

KPN carried the cost of building the digital network and will continue to broadcast three state-supported channels and several regional public broadcasters.

In return, KPN will use the remaining available capacity to carry a package of pay-television channels.