Information Ministry prepares transition to digital telecasting

The Ministry of Information Development is due to complete by the end of the year the Concept on Digital Terrestrial Television in an effort to meet the goal of performing a shift from analogue to digital television by 2015. “It is an ambitious goal which requires great efforts for creating a proper legal framework and infrastructure and for training specialists”, said Oleg Rotaru, Deputy Information Development Minister, in an interview quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Oleg Rotaru said the Ministry would start digital telecasting in 2009, with a pilot project already in progress in Chisinau. According to Rotaru, digital television will provide a better quality of picture and sound in all transmission areas, including the so-called shadow zones. The implementation of the new technology will also provide a greater number of channels on a single frequency, will enable simultaneous broadcasting of radio programs on the same digital multiplexed feed, and will increase the number of complementary services for the audience. “This year the E-Communication Law took effect, and there is a strategy for the development of the information society in Moldova. The implementation of the digital television is perfectly consistent with these documents”, said the deputy minister. The costs of the shift to digital television could be estimated with more precision after the Concept is approved. Bearing in mind that the developed European countries aim to make this transition by 2011, Moldova can hope for technical assistance programs from them, as well as for funding from international organizations in the field. The greatest part of the costs will be covered by the government and, possibly, by other actors involved in implementing digital television, added Rotaru. At present, there are 190 frequencies used in analogue telecasting in Moldova.