Friday, May 20, 2011

Business World: Envoy urges adoption of digital TV standard

ADOPTION of a Japanese digital television standard was pushed by Tokyo’s envoy to the Philippines yesterday as regulators continued to hold off from issuing a final recommendation. 

Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe made the request during a courtesy call and President Benigno Simeon S. C. Aquino III promised a thorough study, Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which last year said the country would adopt Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard, is again reviewing its options after Malacañang earlier this year ordered a review.
One of the competing standards being considered is Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T2) technology.
"The Philippine government through the DoST (Department of Science and Technology) and NTC is studying the full review and process of selecting the DTTB (digital terrestrial TV broadcasting) standard to be implemented, and to look into the long-term cost of ownership of the set-up boxes," Mr. Lacierda said during a Palace briefing.
Asked if the Japanese ambassador’s request would bear on the government’s final decision, Mr. Lacierda said the NTC’s recommendation would hold sway.
"The President made no concessions to anyone, and I would assume that even if the European Union would come in and ask, it would be the same," he told BusinessWorld.
NTC officials were not immediately available for comment. - J. D. Poblete, dated 19 May 2011, 11:11 PM.
Source: Business World

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