All systems go for digital TV

THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS regulator has finally cleared the way for the country’s shift to a Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast (DTTB) system, with the publication in a newspaper yesterday of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the switch.

The National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) Memorandum Circular No. 07-12-2014 requires broadcast companies to simulcast their digital TV and analog services within a year from grant of authority to provide such service.

Saying that Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) system “shall be the sole standard in the delivery of DTTB services in the country,” the circular stated that “provisioning of DTTB services shall be allowed upon effectivity of this IRR,” which, in turn, is 15 days from publication or Jan. 1.

The circular also spells out criteria to be used in considering applications for DTTB service provision, general guidelines for the sale of TV sets and set-top boxes, and requires the government to draw up a plan for gradual migration to digital from the existing analog system.

To recall, President Benigno S.C. Aquino III had announced in October last year that the government had chosen Japan’s standard over Europe’s DVB-T2.

Should an analog TV operator be unable to simulcast DTTB, the government will allow other qualified operators to utilize its unused frequency, the circular read.

NTC said that analog operators may implement the DTTB standard anytime during the transition period, provided the viewing public will be advised of such shift at least a month before the start of the new service.

The transition period involves an analog shut-off (ASO) process “wherein DTT and analog services can be simulcast simultaneously”, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba explained in a telephone interview yesterday.

“No analog TV service shall be allowed after the analog shut-off. The ASO shall be reviewed five years after the digital switch to determine which objective targets of the transition plan have been achieved,” the IRR stated.

Mr. Cordoba said total shut-off of analog TV services is targeted “in less than five years from now, starting with networks based in the National Capital Region (NCR).”

Instructions for networks and consumers regarding the ASO will be included in the migration plan, which is targeted to be released “within first half of next year,” Mr. Cordoba said.

The circular said the migration plan will address policy, regulatory and technical issues as well as fiscal considerations, needed industry and consumer support intervention, among others.

“For the migration, we will start off with network companies based here in NCR, as they already have the budget for the shift, while those in provincial areas need more time to get the necessary funding to build infrastructure, so they will just follow after NCR” Mr. Cordoba explained.

Applicants intending to provide digital TV services must have technical and financial capacity to install, operate and maintain a DTTB network, and hold a congressional broadcast franchise in the area it applied for, the circular read.

The circular said “a bandwidth of six megahertz (Mhz) shall be assigned for each authorized DTTB service per service area.” It also allotted the 512-698 Mhz (Channels 21 to 51) frequency bands for DTTB service.

Holders of a congressional broadcast franchise in respective areas will have 60 days from start of IRR implementation to submit their DTTB transition plan.

Officials of the country’s biggest networks had earlier said that they were just waiting for the IRR and migration plan before switching to the new system, saying they have spent billions to upgrade equipment and infrastructure.

Once the new standard is implemented, households will have to buy set-top boxes that will receive digital TV signals, each of which “would cost about P1,000,” NTC’s Mr. Cordoba said by phone. -- Chrisee Jalyssa V. Dela Paz

Source: Business Mirror

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NTC issues guidelines on shift to digital TV

MANILA – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has finally issued the guidelines to ensure the smooth transition from analog to digital television.

The NTC released the rules and regulations for the planned shift to digital terrestrial television broadcast (DTTB) under Memorandum Circular 07-12-2014.

Under the guidelines, NTC is requiring analog VHF (very high frequency) TV service to continue until further orders from the NTC.

Operators are required to simulcast DTTB services together with analog TV services within one year upon the grant of authority to provide DTTB service.

VHF TV operators that fail to simulcast within one year will lose their frequency to other qualified UHF (ultra high frequency) TV operators.

Analog UHF TV operators, meanwhile, may directly shift to DTTB services anytime during the one-year transition period, but may also simulcast DTTB services if frequencies are available.

Operators with a valid Congressional franchise to provide TV broadcasting services may apply to operate DTTB, provided that it has the financial capacity and technical capability to install, operate, and maintain the service.

Frequency banks 512 to 698 MHz or channels 21 to 51 have been allocated for DTTB, and a bandwidth of 6 MHz will be assigned for each authorized DTTB service per service area.

The guidelines also require manufacturers and importers of TV units to indicate whether the unit will require a set top box, or whether the unit can receive Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) programs.

"In order to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the country, there is a need to provide the corresponding guidelines for the delivery of digital television services and ensure smooth transition from analog to digital services," Cordoba said.

Government chose to adopt Japan's ISDB-T standard over Europe's Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2) because of the possibility to broadcast early warning signals during emergency situations.

Aside from Japan, other countries that use ISDB-T are Brazil, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Paraguay.

NTC is set to draft a DTTB migration plan in consultation with major shareholders to address the policy, regulatory, and technical issues as well as fiscal considerations, industry and consumer support interventions.

Broadcast firms led by network giant ABS-CBN has allocated funds to acquire equipment and upgrade facilities in preparation for the DTT shift.

NTC earlier said a transition period of up to five years will be needed to complete the full shift to DTT.

Source: ABS-CBN News

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BEAM backs draft IRR on shift to digital TV

MANILA, Philippines – Broadcast firm Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media (BEAM) has expressed its support for the recently released draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the shift to digital terrestrial television (DTT).

“We fully support the NTC [National Telecommunications Commission] and its latest version of the IRR for digital television,” BEAM president Steve Macion said in a statement.

Macion said the industry will benefit from the plan of the NTC of providing UHF operators with options to either switch to DTT using their assigned analog frequency, or simulcast using frequencies assigned to inactive VHF operators.

“This will hasten digital migration and maximize efficiency in the use of spectrum,” he said.

He also agreed with NTC’s decision to accept new applicants that have congressional broadcast franchises as well as financial and technical capability.

“This would open the industry’s doors to new and innovative players that can introduce positive changes in broadcasting, whether as a for-profit, an entertainment medium, a public service, or as an agent of social change,” said the BEAM president.

BEAM is a Philippine broadcast company that operates free-to-air channel 31. BEAM, which was initially focused on UHF broadcasting, is currently preparing for digital terrestrial television and multimedia convergence.

The NTC has set a public hearing for all affected and interested parties on September 12.

The NTC released the draft IRR pursuant to its Memorandum Circular No. 05-11-2013, adopting Japan's Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard for the Philippines' migration to digital TV.

Source: ABS-CBN News

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Philippines to start migrating to digital TV using Japan technology

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has given the go-signal to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to begin the groundwork for the migration of the Philippines to digital terrestrial television using the Japanese system, a Palace official said Tuesday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a regular press briefing, admitted that the country's migration to digital TV from analog would entail some amount of money from the consuming public since the people have to purchase set-up box for their current television sets if they opt not to buy new sets which are already digitally-capable.

He said the Philippines, like the 15 other countries, has chosen to adopt the integrated service digital broadcasting-terrestrial (ISDB-T) system that was developed by Japan. The ISDB-T paves the way for digital broadcast in the entire country, Coloma said.

The decision to adopt the Japanese technology was reached after a series of consultations by the President's economic team, the Department of Science and Technology and the NTC with various stakeholders, including broadcasters. The last public hearing was held on October 29 where major stakeholders approved the draft memorandum circular for the ISDB-T system.

"All the major broadcasters attended the public hearing and there were no noted objections to the issuance of the said memorandum circular," Coloma said.

"The Philippines is joining other Asean member countries in switching over from analog to digital broadcasting," Coloma said.

"Such move will provide free-to-air digital TV signal to televiewers and consumers that is clearer even if they are in remote areas. The choice of this system was announced by President Aquino to the Philippine media delegation at the recent Asean summit in Brunei Darussalam," he said.

According to Coloma, the President emphasized the new system is aligned with the government's objective of zero-casualty in times of calamities.

He said the presidential directive will phase out analogue transmission in approximately two to three years.

He stressed more than 20 typhoons strike the Philippines every year. With six active faults, the country is situated within the Pacific ring of fire thereby exposing the Filipino people to constant danger and adversity.

To address this challenge, Coloma said the NTC ascertained the compatibility of the ISDB-T system with mobile devices since there are approximately 95 million mobile phone subscribers. This facility, Coloma said, may also be accessed through other mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, game consoles and the like.

He said ISDB-T has a built-in early warning system to enable people with TV sets, mobile phones and other hand-held gadgets with TV receivers to receive early warning announcements and advisories from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council.

It has also a built-in mobile transmission that can send early warnings to more than 100 million mobile phone users in the country at the shortest possible, Coloma said.

"These features are very much applicable to the Philippines as we have the same situation as Japan in terms of natural calamities," Coloma explained.

"This development is most relevant to a country prone to natural calamities and will help increase our reaction and response to calamities. The President is glad that our broadcasters are one with the government in adopting the Japanese system for the same reasons," he said.

"Another factor is the lower cost for acquiring a set top box compatible with existing television sets. We expect that by yearend 2013, the NTC, in coordination with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, will be able to conduct public consultations leading to the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations," Coloma said.

Asked of the possible cost in availing the new technology, Coloma only cited the amount of each dongle, which could be attached to a mobile phone. He said that this could cost $11 per piece based on an order quantity of 500,000.

He failed to mention the cost of a set-up box for an analog TV set, but reports said it could be less than one thousand pesos each. (SDR/Sunnex)

Source: Sunstar

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NTC draft rules require simulcast digital, analog TV broadcast for 1 year

MANILA - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued the rules on the Philippines' migration to digital terrestrial TV (DTT).  

Under the NTC's draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Japan's Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard should be the sole standard in the delivery of digital TV broadcast service in the Philippines.

According to the NTC’s draft rules, TV companies are required to simulcast their DTT service and analog service within a year upon the effectivity of the IRR.

A bandwidth of 6 megahertz shall be assigned for each authorized DTT service per service area. The NTC also allocated the frequency bands 512-698 Mhz (Channels 21 to 51) for the implementation of the DTT service.

"A duly authorized DTT service provider shall be have the option in its application to the Commission to adopt either single or multi-program HDTV format or single or multi-program SDTV format or any combination thereof for its digital service," NTC said, adding that  any subsequent change in the program format shall require prior written approval from the Commission.

The agency said the provision of new programs in addition to the analog legacy program is encouraged, adding that, "The provision of HD programs is likewise encouraged."

The draft rules provide that the transition and migration from analog TV to DTT service shall be based on a transition plan formulated by the NTC in consultation with the broadcast industry.

No analog TV operation shall be allowed after the analog shut-off (ASO), which will be set by the agency. 

Dealers of brand new TV receiving sets shall indicate in each TV set whether the same can receive analog signal only and will require a set top box or whether the same can receive ISDB-T programs.

Free-to-air TV or non-cable households comprise 90 percent of the Philippines' 17 million viewers.

The agency issued the draft IRR for digital TV to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the country.

"There is a need to provide the corresponding guidelines for the delivery of the digital television services and ensure smooth transition from analog to digital television," NTC said.

The NTC is scheduled to hold a public hearing on September 12 for the proposed IRR on digital TV.

The regulator in 2010 issued an order adopting ISDB-T as the standard and released a draft IRR in July 2011, but Malacañang ordered a review of Europe's Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2).

In November last year, the NTC issued Memorandum Circular No. 05-11-2013, adopting Japan's ISDB-T standard for the Philippines' migration to digital TV.

The NTC order came on the heels of President Benigno Aquino III's promise to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a state visit that the Philippines would choose Japan's standard over that of Europe.

Besides Japan, other countries that use ISDB-T are Brazil, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Paraguay.

Source: Interaksyon

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Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial (ISDB-T

Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial (ISDB-T) is the most advanced international standard on Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) system originally developed in Japan. ISDB-T has been introduced in Japan since December 2003, and the number of the countries adopting ISDB-T is gradually increasing with the recognition of its technological advantage.

Countries adopting ISDB-T are as follows.

	Country	ISDB-T adopted	ISDB-T service started
1	Japan	------	December 2003
2	Brazil	June 2006	December 2007
3	Peru	April 2009	March 30, 2010
4	Argentina	August 2009	April 28, 2010
5	Chile	September 2009
6	Venezuela	October 2009	June 2011
7	Ecuador	March 2010
8	Costa Rica	May 2010	May 1, 2014
9	Paraguay	June 2010	August 15, 2011
10	Philippines	June 2010 November 2013 (reassertion)
11	Bolivia	July 2010
12	Uruguay	December 2010
13	Maldives	October 2011 (national broadcasting) April 2014 (decided as national standard)
14	Botswana	February 2013	July 29, 2013
15	Guatemala	May 2013
16	Honduras	September 2013
17	Sri Lanka	May 2014

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