Besides a better quality of sound and images, digital television technology will allow the delivery of additional services, declared Valeriu Elas, general director of Radiocomunicatii State Enterprise, at the “Terrestrial digital television” round table. The event was organized during the Week of Telecommunications and Information Society in Moldova 2011, Info-Prim Neo reports. “For example, if a natural calamity strikes in a district, the alert can be broadcasted immediately, on the background, without interrupting the ongoing program. New possibilities include TV SMS and TV chat as well as other services”, mentioned Victor Elas. He added that the first multiplex would be built by the end of 2012. It will allow the simultaneous broadcasting of several channels on a single telecommunications line. A multiplex will transmit about 10 channels, covering 99% of the country’s territory. Overall, 4 multiplexes will be built. The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Dona Scola, said that the implementation of digital TV in Moldova was inevitable. The process must be completed until June 2015, when analog frequencies will be excluded. Among the advantages of digital TV, the deputy minister named the access to more sources of information and the lower costs. Broadcasting a digital channel is cheaper than an analog one, which will lead to a better competition on the market. “Because of economic reasons, it’s a national interest to switch to digital TV, because today broadcasting is very expensive”, she added. The overall cost of the projects is estimated at €15 million. Moldova engaged to implement digital TV by signing an agreement in Geneva, in 2008.