TRANSITION FROM ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING European Regional Initiative István Bozsóki BDT/IEE/TND Seminar for Europe and CIS

22 The challenges of Switchover 2 Legal and Political issues Program editors, Licensing, number and ownership of Multiplexes, Network Operators, Public TV services, commercial TVs, local TV Standards, Analogue Switch Off (ASO), etc Technical issues Standards, compression system (MPEG2/MPEG4), Spectrum availability, network planning (MFN/SFN), coverage areas, end users equipment (Set-Top Box/ D-TV), etc. Economical related issues Introduction of new business model, transition costs, subsidizing vulnerable people, etc. Allocation of Digital dividend Seminar for Europe and CIS

Seminar for Europe and CIS33 3  Posted on ITU web for free download t/publ/D-HDB- GUIDELINES /en t/publ/D-HDB- GUIDELINES /en

B RINGING DIGITAL TELEVISION TO LIFE Seminar for Europe and CIS4 Right after the end of the GE06 Conference many countries have started preparation for transition to Digital Television Plan. Unlike previous plan which also had massive transition (GE84, switchover to new Plan was set for ALL on 1 July 1987, at 0001 hours UTC) GE06 allowed for phased, individual and coordinated transition at needs and capabilities of the countries. Six years after the GE06 Conference among countries of East Central Europe and CIS countries we have “Digital islands” in the “Analogue sea” Some countries have completely switched off Analogue television and have completely transferred all programs into Digital, some are in the process soon to be finished and some countries have not yet started at all.

REGIONAL INITIATIVE FOR EUROPE Seminar for Europe and CIS5 World Telecommunication Development Conferences of 2010 (WTDC-10, Hyderabad, India, 24 May – 4 June 2010): The Europe Region indicated the digital broadcasting as one of the higher priority and was endorsed as one of the Regional Initiatives for Europe (especially for Central and Eastern European countries) Expected results 1. Overview of policy and regulatory frameworks for digital terrestrial broadcasting including mobile television; 2. Appropriate mechanism for the conversion from analogue to digital archives; 3. Provision of assistance in the deployment of interactive multimedia services and applications; 4. Sharing the experiences gained through the implementation of this initiative with broadcasters and service providers within and outside the Region.

PREPARATORY WORKSHOP Seminar for Europe and CIS6 ITU Sub-Regional Seminar and Administration Round Table on Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting and Digital Dividend in Central and Eastern Europe Győr, Hungary from 2 to 4 May 2011 Co-organized with the National Media and Infocommunications Authority of Hungary (NMHH) Aimed to respond to the request from the ITU Member States in Central and Eastern Europe for assistance in making a smooth transition Work undertaken by relevant European regional organizations and entities to avoid duplication of effort, organizing workshop in the region where stakeholders from the region will share their experience and practice as well as perspective on the matter and recommend the way forward. Project related to Regional Initiative

WORKSHOP OUTPUTS Seminar for Europe and CIS7 On the basis of the presentations, Country case studies, questions and data collected at the meeting and additional requests sent by participating and non-participating countries an Action Plan for the transition from Analogue to Digital Television was drafted Project Document for the ITU Regional Initiative for transition Analogue to Digital television in accordance with the objectives set by the WTDC-10

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Seminar for Europe and CIS8 This project comprises a 3-years activity to assist countries in Central and Eastern Europe to perform smooth and successful switchover from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting in period June 2011 – June It will provide assistance in resolving regulatory, political, technological and economic challenges which the beneficiary countries of Central and Eastern Europe are facing with regard to Migration from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting, Experiences and best practices will be shared and recommendations on the way forward for implementation of the Regional Initiative in the region and related countries will be formulated

PROJECT OBJECTIVE Seminar for Europe and CIS9 The objective of this Project is to assist countries in Central and Eastern Europe to perform smooth and successful introduction of digital broadcasting by providing a help in regulatory, political, technological and economic aspects of the transition from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting. This help will be in providing a knowledge database, Q&A forum for exchanging the views a roster of experts who have already successfully accomplished the task with hands-on experience and willing to give unbiased assistance to other countries in the region.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES Seminar for Europe and CIS10 Technical seminar and workshop Regulatory workshop and seminar Country assistance Knowledge database and discussion forum Follow-up seminar and administration round table High-level round table on ministerial level Closure seminar and administration round table

WHY SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS Seminar for Europe and CIS11 A lot of countries have completed Analogue Switch-Off. This task was completed with certain difficulties and a number of unpredicted obstacles. In doing this, they have gained very valuable experience. The value of this experience will be much bigger if shared with others, giving them guidance and advices about all problems (e.g. technology, legislation, financial or commercial issues) or advertizing the switchover and helping persons in need complete this task, sometimes very challenging for aged or less educated population Planning of the frequencies in GE06 Plan together with advancing methods of compressing digital signal will leave some Plan entries free for uses other than broadcasting. To gain maximum of Digital Dividend, a coordinated approach between the neighboring countries is essential. Harmonizing the approach among neighbors can lead to additional increase of the available frequencies in the border areas.

BUDGET Seminar for Europe and CIS12 Expected budget CHF Seminars and workshops Country assistance High-level round table Dedicated ASO/DD website ITU will provide CHF as funding support from the RI EUR funds In-kind contributions venue, administrative and logistical support (host countries) For the rest ITU shall find sponsors and partners

EXPECTED RESULTS Seminar for Europe and CIS13 Technical Seminar and Workshop (Poland) 3-day Regulatory Seminar and Workshop to be held in (host country tbd) (September 2012) Ministerial level Round Table to be held in (host country tbd) (2012) Creation of Roster List of Experts (10 to 12 five-day missions) Type approval laboratory established Creation of Knowledge Database and Discussion forum for exchange of views and expertise in introduction of the Digital Television and Digital Dividend 3-day Follow-up Seminar and Administration Round Table to be held one year after the Ministerial meeting (2013) 3-day Project Closure Seminar and Administration Round Table to be held in May 2014

Regional initiatives in other regions In all the regions Digital broadcasting and transition Africa Asia Pacific Arab Americas Europe (Central and Eastern Europe) CIS Seminar for Europe and CIS

Seminar for Europe and CIS15 Thank you ! István Bozsóki ITU/BDT/IEE/TND or