30.4.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 11277 COMMISSION DECISION of 20 December 2006 on the measure No C 24/2004 (ex NN 35/2004) implemented by Sweden for the introduction of digital terrestrial television (notified under document number C(2006) 6923) (Only the Swedish version is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2007/258EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above and having regard to their comments (1), Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 9 August 2001, the satellite operator Nordic Satellite AB (NSAB’) (3 submitted a complaint to the European Commission (‘the Commission’) regarding alleged State aid granted by the Swedish State to the Swedish terrestrial network operator, Teracom AB (‘Teracom’) and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with the establish- ment of digital terrestrial television in Sweden (). By letter dated 28 November 2001, the television distributor Viasat AB (Viasat) — an integrated free-television and pay- television operator — submitted a very similar complaint to that of NSAB. (2) After a preliminary investigation, the Commission informed Sweden, by letter dated 14 July 2004, that it had decided to initiate the formal investigation procedure (hereafter referred to as the ‘opening Decision’) as set out in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the alleged aid measures. The opening Decision was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 September 2004. It called upon Sweden and other interested parties to submit their comments on the alleged aid measures. (3) On 29 October 2004, the Commission received the Swedish Government’s response (the 29 October response) to its opening Decision. It received comments (") See Case C 24/04 (ex NN 35/04) Introduction of digital terrestrial television in Sweden, O] C 238, 25.9.2004, p. 5. () On 1 December 2005, NSAB changed its name to SES Sirius AB. Notwithstanding this, the complainant will throughout this Decision be referred to as ‘NSAB.! () On 12 April 2002 and on 2 October 2002, NSAB supplemented its complaint with additional information concerning the alleged state aid measures. also from the following interested parties: B2 Bredband AB (B2)) (%), the European Cable Communications Association (ECCA)) (), the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA)) (®), NSAB (’), Telenor Broadcast Holding AS (‘Telenor Broadcast’) (%), TeliaSonera AB (‘TeliaSonera’) (%), UGC Europe, Inc. (UGC) (1) and Viasat (11). (4) By letters dated 17 November 2004 and 17 January 2006, the Commission forwarded interested parties’ observations to the Swedish Government. The latter submitted its comments on the observations by letters dated 20 Decem- ber 2004 and 20 March 2006. (5)  On 22 November 2004, the Commission departments met with ECCA. Meetings were also held with representatives of NSAB and ESOA on 1 March 2005 and on 21 and 30 November 2005. (6) By letters dated 8 February 2006, 7 April 2006, 31 May 2006 and 30 August 2006, the Commission sent additional requests for information to Sweden. The Swedish Government responded by letters dated 20 March 2006 (the 20 March response’) (registered as received on 22 March 2006), 25 April 2006 (the 25 April response’) (registered as received on 24 October 2006), 5 May 2006 (the ‘5 May response’) (registered as received on 11 May 2006), 15 June 2006 (registered as received on 16 June 2006) and 1 September 2006 (registered as received on 4 September 2006). (*) See B2’s submission dated 22 October 2004. () See ECCA’s submission dated 25 October 2004 (registered as received on 2 December 2004). (°) See ESOA’s submission dated 18 October 2004 (registered as received on 25 October 2004). (') See NSAB's submissions dated 22 October 2004, 11 February 2005 (registered as received on 14 February 2005), 9 March 2005 (registered as received on 10 March 2005) and 1 December 2005 (registered as received on 6 December 2005). (®) See Telenor Broadcast’s submission dated 17 November 2004 (registered as received on 18 November 2004). (°) See TeliaSonera’s submission dated 25 October 2004 (registered as received on 26 October 2004). (1% See UGC's submission dated 25 October 2004 (registered as received on 26 October 2004). (') See Viasat's submission dated 25 October 2004 (registered as received on 26 October 2004).