Moldova has implemented digital television faster than Romania even if the two countries were issued with licenses simultaneously, the president of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM) Catalin Marinescu stated for IPN. The Romanian official is taking part in the Regional Conference of Broadcasters and Producers of Radio and TV Transmission Equipment that is held in Chisinau on May 11-13.

According to him, the digital television is an important step forward because the users can access more programs and of a higher quality. The implementation of digital television in Moldova was favored by the relief. “The mountains in Romania make the coverage of the territory more difficult, but digital television develops in Romania too. We hope to have at least one multiplex with 90% coverage by the end of this year,” stated Catalin Marinescu.

The president of ANCOM said the broadcasting sectors in Romania and Moldova are practically at the same level. “On some segments, this sector is more advanced in Romania, while on other segments it is more advanced in Moldova and we will definitely cooperate in the future in implementing new technologies,” he noted.

Catalin Marinescu also said that new broadcasters will soon appear in the two countries because a basis of new frequencies will appear. “We, together with the National Center of Radio Frequencies, identified more frequencies that can be used in Moldova and in Romania as well,” he stated, noting that Romania and Moldova will cooperate in setting the charges of mobile roaming and international calls and these could decrease for the benefit of the users from both of the states.

At the beginning of April, the Broadcasting Coordination Council of Moldova accepted the applications of 12 TV channels for filling the available slots of Multiplex A and announced a new contest for the three remaining slots.