Andanar cites Japan’s help for realization of digital TV in PH

MANILA – Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar expects a big improvement in the transmission capacity of state-owned People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI) with the use of Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial (ISDB-T) System.

In his speech during the 6th Philippine-Japan High Level Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation in Pasay City Wednesday night, Andanar said the use of the Digital Terrestrial TV Broadcasting (DTTB) standard, initially on operational stations, will allow PTNI to reach the most populated areas.

“With the upgrade of digital transmissions PTNI will have a major increase in its digital signal reach and population coverage,” he said, noting that people from rural and remote areas will have equal access to important information like government programs and services, local and national issues and emergency advisories.

Andanar said the use of Digital TV is a plus to the government’s initiatives on disaster emergency communication.

He said “the Early Warning Broadcasting System (EWBS) will provide timely public information to the citizens and responding government agencies, particularly during calamities and disasters.”

The shift into digital broadcasting by the state TV network will be among the important infrastructure in the country, he said.

The network, he said, has also installed 6 digital transmitters on its own.

“In order to materialize the Digital TV nationwide through the ISDB-T, the Philippines seeks assistance from Japan,” he added.

Andanar said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aims to achieve the Analog Switch Off (ASO) by 2023 and this can happen through the use of DTTB.

He also thanked officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for assigning an expert to the National
Telecommunication Commission (NTC), who helps local experts in planning and implementing Digital TV and related government projects.

He added that the programs of Japan’s largest broadcasting organization, NHK, started airing on People’s Television last October 17.