Colombia. The European Union and the National Television Authority began the implementation of the agreement to support the migration of analog television to digital terrestrial television (DTT), which aims to ensure the use of the comparative advantages offered by this technology, and in this way, provide better television for Colombians. With an investment of eight million euros, three key aspects will be strengthened in the leap to new technology.
The first objective of this agreement allows the installation of 45,583 decoders that will benefit low-income families. To date, the first favored population has been Marinilla, Antioquia, and the next ones will be: Ibagué, Buenaventura, Valledupar, Riohacha, Quibdó, Lorica, Ciénaga, Villa del Rosario, El Tambo, La Tebaida, Turbaco, and Puerto López.
The second key aspect of this agreement is aimed at the definition of regulation and the training of vital entities in the process of change and definition of regulation, within which is the National Television Authority (ANTV); the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC); the National Spectrum Agency (ANI); Radio Televisión Nacional de Colombia; and regional channels.
Finally, the European Union made an investment of 150 thousand euros in a modern monitoring center, which allows to know in real time, the quality of the television signal in 22 municipalities of the national territory.
"13 new municipalities with more than 45 thousand decoders, training and monitoring in real time, are part of this agreement that becomes a vital contribution to achieve the appropriation of the new DTT technology and expand coverage, which today reaches 70.3% of the country," said the Minister of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), David Luna.
In 2010, the National Television Commission chose the European digital television model (DVB-T2 standard) as the best operating standard. This selection was determined according to the technical and performance tests carried out by the CNTV and RTVC. Since 2014, its implementation began in phases, thus having in phase 1, a coverage of 54.20%; in phase two, 15.8 per cent; and in phase 3, 17.75% of the national territory to complete 70.3% of coverage.
"This agreement will ultimately allow more Colombians to enjoy better television, open, free and in high definition. In addition, it is very important to strengthen the institutionality, so that the process of migration to digital television is a reality, "said the director of the National Television Authority, Ángela María Mora Soto.
