The last of the three former nationwide transmitters will soon be no more: the medium-wave transmitter on the summit of Monte Ceneri is to be dismantled by the end of 2016. Dismantling work began on 11 July 2016.
The medium-wave transmitter on the summit of Monte Ceneri was one of the former nationwide transmitters for Switzerland along with those in Beromünster and Sottens. The first transmitter was in the Monte Ceneri pass and came into operation on 18 April 1933. A new transmitter was built on the summit of Monte Ceneri in 1979.
On 30 June 2008, Swisscom Broadcast ceased transmission of the radio programme “Rete Uno” from the Monte Ceneri medium-wave transmitter on behalf of Radiotelevisione svizzera (RSI) and suspended broadcast operations from the medium-wave transmitter. The programme was and still is available via USW, DAB+ and online.
The transmitter was brought back into operation on 1 March 2011 to broadcast the “Voice of Russia” programme. On 30 October 2012, “Voice of Russia” announced that it was to stop broadcasting from the Monte Ceneri transmitter as of 31 December 2012. The medium-wave transmitter was definitively decommissioned as planned on that date.
The medium-wave antenna (254 metres high) and the backup antenna comprising two fibreglass masts (each 50 metres high) will be dismantled by the end of 2016. Dismantling work began on 11 July 2016.