Dutch cable companies blames 4G Internet for television interference

Cable companies in the Netherlands say 4G Internet networks can affect television signals, leading to distorted screen images.

Some frequencies used by the fourth generation of mobile network technologies are the same as the frequencies television broadcasters use to deliver content over cable, which can cause a loss of the signal or garbled screen images, the Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation reported Monday.

There have been complaints in some cities about problems with local and international channels.

Customers are being advised to get better insulated cables to reduce the chance of interference, which could get worse as 4G services are extended to more areas of the country, NOS said.

The first 4G Internet services debuted in the Netherlands in 2012.