Digital terrestrial television available within 40 km from Chisinau

The full coverage of Moldovan territory with digital terrestrial television signal will be achieved until 2015. The service is already available in a 40 km radius from Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo reports. ITC Minister Pavel Filip attended a trial of the digital television (using MPEG-4 compression technology) on Wednesday, April 20. He said that such an innovation would benefit both clients and TV operators. Digital television broadcasts images through data bits frequencies, similar to a computer. It offers clearer images, better sound and more channel options. Moreover, it reduces broadcasting costs 2 or 3 times. The Minister mentioned that while analogue television could broadcast a single channel on a frequency, the digital version could broadcast up to 20 channels. “We have 4 frequencies with national coverage, so that with digital TV we’ll have 40 channels with national coverage”, explained Pavel Filip Consumers who want to replace analogue TV with the digital one need a conventional antenna, a TV set and an STB receiver, which cost about $15-40. They won’t need to pay any additional fees later. STB receivers can be bought at the Radiocomunicatii State Enterprise and distribution shops. Radiocomunicatii director Valeriu Elas, said that the transmitter on Lech Kaczynski Street broadcast 2 frequencies by 10 channels each. The next step is to test a coding system for digital terrestrial television, then digital transmitters and antennas. Valeriu elas added that the contruction of the first multiplex would begin next year. This means that transmitting equipment will be bought and installed in Edinet, Straseni, Comrat, Cimislia, Cahul and other stations. In Moldova, there are three types of digital television: DVB-S (satellite), DVB-C (cable) and DVB-T (terrestrial). The overall cost of the project, which will cover 95% of the population, is estimated at €15 million. Moldova engaged to switch to digital television after signing an agreement in Genoa, in 2008.