Digital TV network providers told to fix blind spots, as voucher giveaway set to kick off
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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has urged the providers of terrestrial digital TV networks to expand them quickly to eliminate the blind spots in some areas, as the NBTC will start giving away digital-receiver vouchers on Octob
The commission plans to give out vouchers towards the purchase of digital set-top boxes or digital-compatible TV sets to 4.64 million households in the first phase of the subsidy programme. However, the NBTC secretary-general, Takorn Tantasith, admitted that the digital network does not yet completely cover the 21 provinces included in the first phase of the giveaway.
The NBTC will dispatch teams to inform people in the blind spots that it is trying to solve this problem as quickly as possible, he said.
According to the NBTC office, there are even some areas in Bangkok without 100-per-cent digital coverage, such as Ratchathewi and Rat Burana districts, and parts of neighbouring provinces, including Suphan Buri and Nonthaburi.
The office yesterday met with 42 set-top-box vendors participating in the voucher scheme as part of the preparation process, under which households will use the Bt690 vouchers to buy their boxes.
The NBTC will transfer vouchers to Thailand Post on October 10 to deliver them to households, which are expected to get them on October 14. People can begin using the vouchers on October 20. The NBTC has extended the coupons’ validity period from six months to seven months, ending May 31 next year.
