Corporate objectives of RAS for the years 2026 to 2029:
- In accordance with national requirements, the RAS television networks are to be migrated to the new DVB-T2 transmission standard and to HEVC video coding. Ageing transmitters must be replaced. The distribution of additional television programmes is desirable.
- New television standards, transmission via mobile communication standards such as 5G Broadcast, and ultra-high-definition (UHD) picture transmission are to be trialled.
- The expansion of the DAB+ digital radio network is to be pursued further. Older equipment is to be replaced with new, more energy-efficient units. To reduce operating costs, parallel analogue FM distribution is to be scaled back step by step.
- On behalf of the Provincial Government, further shared transmitter sites are to be built for public broadcasting services, provincial radio services, private programme providers and mobile network operators. Shared use of the transmitter sites by third parties will continue to be encouraged.
- The transmitter sites and technical installations of RAS are strategic infrastructure of the Province. They are operated to high security standards, protected by redundant systems and continuously modernised. The transmitter network and infrastructure are serviced and maintained on an ongoing basis and kept in line with the latest technical standards at all times. To further increase resilience, additional emergency generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are to be installed at the transmitter sites. A disaster recovery playout is to be built at Kronplatz/Plan de Corones.
- The digital microwave and fibre-optic network is to be expanded further for programme feed, remote monitoring and cross-border programme exchange.
- Additional province-wide linear and non-linear distribution of the radio and television programmes via IP-based fibre-optic and mobile networks is being pursued.
- The RAS streaming app is to be developed further for mobile reception of television programmes on smartphones and tablets. Time-shifted playback of programmes already broadcast is to be made possible.
- The people of South Tyrol should be given full access to foreign media libraries. Geoblocking should be lifted at EU level for recognised linguistic minorities.
- On behalf of the Provincial Government, areas without coverage and tunnels are to be provided with broadband and mobile services. DAS (Distributed Antenna System) mobile technology is to be used primarily for this purpose.
- New transmission standards for fixed, portable and mobile reception are to be trialled.
- Commercial services for third parties are to be expanded. As a network operator, RAS broadcasts private radio and television programmes throughout the Province. Planning, consulting and signal transport (carrier) services are to be provided for third parties.
- To ensure safety on the electrified Vinschgau/Val Venosta railway line, RAS operates, together with Südtiroler Transportstrukturen AG (STA), the transmission links carrying the signals of the GSM-R monitoring system.
- Cooperation with the public broadcasters ORF, ZDF, SRG, ARD and RAI, with network operators, the authorities, the competent ministries and private programme providers is to be continued and consolidated.
- RAS takes part in various committees (such as the Provincial Advisory Board for Communication Infrastructures, the Joint Committee Province–RAI and the RAS–RAI working group) and promotes synergies with provincial structures and other broadcasters.
- Information services are being expanded further in the interest of the Province (internet, civil protection alerts, data services, webcams, etc.).
- Constant technological change and the evolving legal framework require ongoing training of all RAS staff. The staffing plan must be continuously adapted to new requirements.
Broadcasting is undergoing a profound transformation driven by rapid technological progress. In recent years the number of distribution platforms and transmission technologies has grown considerably. Digital broadcasting systems, streaming services, video-on-demand offerings, podcasts and mobile transmission technologies have lastingly changed the media landscape. At the same time, receiving equipment has adapted to the changing needs and usage habits of the population.
Despite these developments, television and radio remain important electronic mass media. They continue to reach large parts of the population and make an essential contribution to information, education and cultural diversity.
RAS has the statutory and cultural mandate to distribute in South Tyrol the programmes of German- and Ladin-language public service broadcasters from abroad. In doing so it makes an essential contribution to cultural diversity, to the formation of public opinion and to strengthening the linguistic identity of the Province.
RAS fulfils this mandate through near-complete terrestrial coverage with radio and television programmes from the German- and Ladin-speaking cultural area. Through its transmission infrastructure, RAS currently distributes 22 television and 39 radio programmes. The current coverage rate is 99.6 per cent.
The RAS transmitter network currently comprises more than 1,200 transmitters operated at around 130 sites. This technical infrastructure represents a significant asset and must be safeguarded in the long term through ongoing maintenance, upkeep and modernisation.
To continue fulfilling its mandate reliably in the future, RAS depends on secure annual funding from the provincial administration. Only in this way can long-term investments be planned and technical developments implemented.
In digital television, the demands on picture quality and transmission capacity are rising continuously. This is driven, among other things, by the growing prevalence of larger and more capable television sets and by rising user expectations. RAS will therefore continue to push ahead with the broadcasting of further high-definition (HD) programmes based on the DVB-T2 transmission standard with HEVC coding. In addition, new television standards, ultra-high-definition content and innovative forms of distribution via mobile networks are to be trialled and developed further.
As the viewing and listening habits of the population continue to change, programme distribution is in future to take place increasingly via IP-based fibre-optic and mobile networks as well. Alongside linear offerings, non-linear and time-independent forms of use are becoming increasingly important.
A streaming app has been developed for mobile reception of RAS television programmes and has been very well received by the public. The streaming app is to be continuously developed and extended with additional functions. In particular, time-shifted viewing of a programme is to be made possible.
RAS continues to work towards enabling full use of the media libraries of foreign broadcasters and continues to pursue the lifting of existing geographical access restrictions (geoblocking) at EU level.
The expansion of the DAB+ digital radio network is being pursued consistently. By acquiring additional transmitters, coverage can be further improved and densified. At the same time, parallel analogue FM distribution is to be scaled back step by step in order to reduce operating costs.
In recent years RAS has built a modern digital microwave network, which serves to feed programmes to the transmitter sites, for programme exchange between North and South Tyrol, and for remote monitoring. In the coming years further transmitter sites are to be connected via microwave and fibre-optic links.
RAS also makes its transmitter sites available to RAI, private broadcasters, mobile and broadband providers, and important radio services of the State and the Province. These include, among others, the Carabinieri, the Police, the Guardia di Finanza, Civil Protection, the provincial emergency call centre, STA, the White Cross, the fire brigades and Mountain Rescue. The shared use of these sites, most of which are located outside populated areas, enables efficient infrastructure planning and makes a lasting contribution to protecting the environment and landscape, as additional installations can be avoided.RAS also makes its transmitter sites available to RAI, private broadcasters, mobile and broadband providers, and important radio services of the State and the Province. These include, among others, the Carabinieri, the Police, the Guardia di Finanza, Civil Protection, the provincial emergency call centre, STA, the White Cross, the fire brigades and Mountain Rescue. The shared use of these sites, most of which are located outside populated areas, enables efficient infrastructure planning and makes a lasting contribution to protecting the environment and landscape, as additional installations can be avoided.
Given these advantages, RAS will continue to build and operate new shared transmitter sites on behalf of the Provincial Government.
Owing to their central role in broadcasting, mobile communications and telecommunications coverage, the RAS transmitter sites are of strategic importance for the Province. To ensure the availability of this strategic infrastructure even in exceptional situations, the sites must be equipped with appropriate redundancy and security measures. These include in particular emergency generators, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and fail-safe transmission and power supply systems. A disaster recovery playout is to be built at Kronplatz/Plan de Corones.
It must also be ensured that the installations are reachable and accessible at all times so that maintenance and repair work can be carried out even under extraordinary conditions. Modern safety and security standards are also to be taken into account in new construction and refurbishment, in particular with regard to the security of the transmitter site and its resilience to earthquakes and extraordinary natural events.
RAS continuously monitors technological developments and deploys innovative transmission and communication technologies in a targeted manner. New standards and services are examined and trialled at an early stage and developed further in the interest of the population.
In the field of telecommunications, RAS will continue to support the expansion of mobile and broadband infrastructure, particularly in peripheral and underserved areas of South Tyrol. Modern DAS (Distributed Antenna System) mobile technology is to be used increasingly for this purpose. The aim is to provide the people of South Tyrol with modern, high-performance mobile coverage and to ensure that emergency calls can be made reliably even in remote areas.
Services for third parties, as commercial activities of RAS, are to be expanded further. As a network operator, RAS also makes its broadcasting and telecommunications infrastructure available to external partners.
To safeguard the electrified railway line in the Vinschgau/Val Venosta, RAS operates, together with Südtiroler Transportstrukturen AG (STA), the transmission links carrying the signals of the GSM-R monitoring system and provides several sites for coverage of the Vinschgau/Val Venosta.
Implementing these varied tasks requires close cooperation with the provincial departments, municipalities, authorities and ministries as well as with broadcasting and telecommunications companies in Italy and abroad.
As many projects directly affect the population, continuous and transparent public relations work is of particular importance.
RAS has highly qualified staff whose expertise must be kept up to date through regular training and professional development. In addition, RAS makes its technical and specialist knowledge available to public institutions, ministries, authorities, operators of critical infrastructure, mobile network operators and private organisations.
RAS is represented on various expert bodies, including the Provincial Commission for Communication Infrastructures and the Joint Committee Province–RAI, and contributes in an advisory capacity to working groups of the competent ministries and supervisory authorities.
Performing these institutional tasks and taking on new fields of activity require continuous adaptation and development of the RAS staffing plan.