Costa Rica. On January 31, Costa Rica became the first country in Latin America to complete the transition process to digital terrestrial television under the Japanese Brazilian standard (ISDB-Tb), after 63 years of having the analog signal.
Thanks to the work coordinated by the Joint Commission for the implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television in Costa Rica, composed of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), the National Council of Rectors (CONARE), the National Radio and Television System (SINART), the Superintendence of Telecommunications (SUTEL), the Chamber of Infocommunication and Technology (INFOCOM), The Chamber of Information and Communication Technologies (CAMTIC) and the National Chamber of Radio and Television (CANARTEL) closes a process giving way to a digital era in national television that places them at the forefront in the region in this matter.
Carlos Enrique Alvarado Briceño, Minister of MICITT, commented that "The cessation of analog television transmissions within the framework of the adoption of the Brazilian Japanese standard for digital television, implies a clear example how in Costa Rica State Policies can be carried out, which are executed throughout different government administrations. Undoubtedly, among the success factors is the active participation of the public and private sectors, which has been articulated from MICITT for the fulfillment of the goal set. For the Chaves Robles administration, this historic event implies the fulfillment of the first goal of the National Telecommunications Development Plan 2022-2027."
The implementation of open and free Digital Television was carried out progressively and has given the possibility of enjoying more programming through the same channel; improve image and sound quality, as well as facilitate the recovery of segments of the radio spectrum for the development of other types of telecommunications services such as mobile services (IMT).
For Saray Amador, President of the Board of Directors of Canartel and member of the Joint Commission for the implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television in Costa Rica, "A public-private partnership in this case, between Micitt and Canartel, has made possible this historic milestone that we celebrate. We have successfully completed the digitization of free and free television nationwide on the ISDB tv standard. This historical fact shows that the State and Private Enterprise can achieve positive things for citizens. A synergy of goodwill, knowledge and talent of both government and concessionaires in communication pays off. Canartel and its associated media are pleased to achieve this with the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications. This achievement is a good example of effective coordination between two important social actors: Micitt and Canartel."
From the beginning of the process, Costa Rica selected the Japanese-Brazilian digital format (ISDB-Tb), since according to the technical analyzes carried out, this transmission system is better adapted to the geographical conditions of our territory. The so-called "Roadmap for the Transition to Digital Television" and the Reference Model for the implementation of DTT in Costa Rica, are the instruments that have guided the process of change, establishing actions for before, during and after analog blackouts. This process has had the support and accompaniment of the Government of Japan, as well as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Nishimuro Yousuke, Director of Digital Broadcasting Technology at the Ministry of Interior and Communications of Japan and Sakaguchi Yasuji Director of Broadcasting Systems Engineering of the Telecommunications Consulting and Engineering Service of Japan (JTEC) participated in the closing ceremony of the process which was attended by the Vice President of the Republic Steven Brunner, the directors of MICITT, the members of the Joint Commission and representatives of the television cameras who have invested in human, technical and economic resources to achieve this technological change.
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