NBTC to meet govt on set-top box plans

PM’s Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal made the remark yesterday when the government and the NBTC jointly announced that Thailand had adopted the European DVB-T2 standard for broadcasting terrestrial digital TV service.
The National Economic and Social Development Board had recommended that the NBTC to use the commission’s research-and-development fund to promote locally made set-top boxes.
NBTC broadcasting committee chairman Natee Sukonrat said the commission planned to use such a fund but would have to discuss in more detail with the government on how much to subsidise the set-top boxes and for which viewer groups.
“We still have time to think on this,” Natee added.

SWITCH
The NBTC will start switching Thailand from analog to the terrestrial digital TV system from this year when it is expected to grant digital TV licences, specifically for public service.
It will auction the new commercial digital TV licences next year. The gradual analog system switch will be complete in 2015.
Natee said the DVB-T2 system was appropriate because it is very advanced and ensures efficient spectrum use, which enables the creation of at least 50 digital TV channels. The digital TV will be run on Ultra-High Frequency (UHF).
Vietnam adopted the DVB-T2 standard last year, while Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia are expected to launch digital TV on the same system this year. The average cost of a DVB-T2 set-top box is US$25 (Bt800).
Natee said the NBTC would also draw up the regulations for the terrestrial digital TV standard and put it for public hearing.
The NBTC intends to make available the first three of its four classes of licences for terrestrial digital TV in August. The three licence types are for programme transmission, for renting facilities such as broadcast towers, and for channel operators. The fourth class, for providers of application services, will be awarded later.