Vital TV antenna replaced at Sudbury
Helicopter and broadcast engineers work together to upgrade TV services for 1.5M in the East
01 October 2026, Winchester, UK - A specialist helicopter operation has successfully installed a new television antenna at Arqiva's Sudbury transmitting station in Suffolk as part of a major infrastructure upgrade designed to support the future resilience of television services across the East of England.
The project, involving heights of over 140m and some materials weighing over 3 tonnes, helps secure the long-term reliability and resilience of Freeview TV services and radio for around 1.5 million people across central and southern Suffolk, most of Essex and northern Kent.
The work was delivered through a carefully planned operation comprising nine helicopter lifts over three days, while television services remained on air throughout.
In total, more than 12 tonnes of steelwork and associated materials were removed from the mast as part of the upgrade, enabling the installation of the new antenna system.
The project took several months to plan and organise, with a number of specialist teams working together closely to ensure minimal disruption to viewers and listeners, and ensure the highly specialised work was carried out safely and as quickly as possible.
Jason Bell, Airworks Manager, Projects at Arqiva, said:
“Replacing a major antenna system on an operational transmitter is a highly complex task, particularly when helicopter lifts are required to remove and install large sections of infrastructure at significant height.
“The planning began many months before work started on site, bringing together engineers, rigging specialists, helicopter operators and operational teams to ensure every stage could be delivered safely and efficiently.”
The upgrade forms part of Arqiva's ongoing investment in the UK's broadcast infrastructure, ensuring transmitter sites continue to deliver dependable television services while supporting future operational requirements.
Dom Wedgwood, Chief Technology Officer at Arqiva, said:
“Millions of people continue to depend on free-to-air television as a trusted source of news, information and entertainment. Maintaining the infrastructure that supports those services is essential.
“This highly complex works at Sudbury reflects our commitment to the long-term future of broadcasting and to providing resilient, reliable networks for our customers, broadcasters and audiences we serve. By continually renewing and upgrading critical infrastructure, we are ensuring broadcast services remain robust and dependable for years to come.”
ENDS
