|
EXPERTS
from
Japan
and the US flew in to show the National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC) their respective
technology platforms in Digital Technology Television (DTT).
America’s
Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and Japan’s
Integrated Services Digital Broadcast (ISDB) are among
the technology standards being considered by the
commission, also known as NTC, to jumpstart the
transmission of digital television service in the
country.
The
other technology platform under consideration is the
Digital Video Broadcast Handheld or DVB-H of Europe.
“We
allowed the testing of the digital TV standard
technology of the Japanese and the Americans. The
Japanese were here two weeks ago and conducted tests in
several areas including here at the NTC,” said NTC
deputy commissioner Jaime Fortes in an interview.
A
technical working group on digital TV has witnessed and
will witness all the demonstration and propagation tests
of each technology platform.
The
members of the group include the Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkasters sa Pilipinas, Philippine Information Agency,
National Economic Development Authority, and 48
broadcasting firms. They will help NTC craft the rules
and regulations that will govern the conduct of
implementation of DTT in the country.
Fortes,
who is in charge of digital and mobile TV matters, said
the American experts will hold a demo broadcast of ATSC
this week in the same areas where the Japanese conducted
their tests.
The
trials are expected to last for two to three days.
“The
Europeans are next,” Fortes added.
After
the tests the NTC will prepare a report, covering each
of the platform. The report will also include a
recommendation as to which technology is best suited for
both fixed and mobile receivers in the country.
The
recommendation, said Fortes, forms the basis of rules
governing the use of DTT in the country. “The NTC will
draft the rules after the report is finalized. We will
then call for a public hearing to get the opinion of
industry stakeholders,” he added.
Digital
TV technology allows multi-transmission of programming
content in one terminal.
The NTC
has received applications from GV Broadcasting Systems
Inc., ABS-CBN, GMA Network Inc., Associated Broadcasting
Corp., National Broadcasting Corp. and Christian Era
Broadcasting to offer digital TV service. |
