DIGITAL SWITCHOVER STRATEGY IN ALBANIA ITU Regional Initiative for Europe on Digital Broadcasting Transition to Digital Broadcasting and Digital Dividend 5-7 November 2012, Budapest, Hungary DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT Strategy was adopted by CoM Decision Nr. 292, dt 2.5.2012 Interministerial Committee was established for the implementation of Digital Switchover Strategy. (Order Nr. 70, dt 12.6.2012, of Prime Minister) Interministerial Committee is responsible for the coordination/proposal of all necessary activities (financial,subsidies,crossborder coordination etc) related to the full implementation of DSO. Technical Secretariat established(MIITC,AKEP,KKRT, MoF, MoE etc) DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is a process of national importance, and the most important one in the field of radio television broadcasting. No delays may be allowed in digitalisation of the Albanian television operators (public and private), so that this process is achieved within the final deadline set forth by the GE-06, June 2015. The remaining time does not allow for RTSH and the private operators, which will receive licenses for national, regional and local coverage, to work with different plans or agendas. The work done for a "digital islands" coverage of the territory will require all operators, no one excluded, to coordinate the works in a "synchronic" manner, to be able to achieve the switchover (switch off of analogue broadcasting) at the time decided by the respective institutions, according to the action plan . Even in 2015, due to the rough terrain, no Albanian operator will be able to cover more than 90-95% of the country's territory. For the remaining part it will be needed to foresee satellite coverage, as done in other countries. In order to achieve a successful digital switchover, the engagement of the Government is required, as well as use of state subsidy schemes. DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT CURRENT SITUATION OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING   The frequency plan for digital broadcasting in Albania   The Albanian Frequency Plan, approved by the GE06 Agreement, and ratified by the Assembly of Albania, provides the following: 7 national coverages with DVB-T (Digital terrestrial television) in UHF band 1 national coverage with DVB-T in VHF band 2 national coverages with T-DAB (digital radio) in VHF band  In addition to national coverage, the plan also foresees local coverage: Tirana sub-allotment with 7 local coverages DVB-T in UHF, 1 coverage in DVB-T VHF and 2 coverages in T-DAB VHF. Planning a number of frequencies for local coverage in some areas of Albania DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT Allotments For DVB-T in UHF: 2. For DVB-T in VHF 3. For T-DAB (Digital radio) DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT Broadcasting capacity generated from the implementation of the Digital Broadcasting Frequency Plan DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

Analogue operators supported by digital platforms No. Analogue TV operators Status Area of coverage Platform   1 TVSH Public National Digitalb 2 TV Klan Private 3 Top Channel 4 TV News 24 Local (Tiranë – Durrës) 5 TV Ora 6 Vizion + Tring 7 TV Shijak Digital TV Shijak DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

ACTION PLAN AND OBJECTIVES Objectives of complete digital switchover   2.1.1. Main objectives: Digitalization of the terrestrial analogue networks in the Republic of Albania; Provision of additional capacities in order to increase variety and plurality of programs; Introduction of new media technologies, (HD TV, DVB-T2, DVB H) interactive services, etc; Use of a digital dividend for other telecommunication services. DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT “Implementation of Digital transition in two phases”. Phase one: Achieving the immediate objective (Switch off analogue broadcasting);; Phase two: Offering additional capacities in order to increase variety and plurality of programs; introducing new media technologies and services (HD TV, DVBT2, DVB-H, interactive services, etc.); and utilizing the digital dividend for other telecommunication services. Standarts of digital transition: DVB- T2, Standart for digital broadcasting of television signal MPEG- 4 (H.264/AVC)- Compression standard DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT Immediate objectives The switch off of analogue broadcastings: First deadline : 31 December 2012 (Law no. 9742, dated 28.5.2007 “On digital broadcastings in the Republic of Albania”. This deadline is now considered to be unrealistic. Final dealine: 17 June 2015 (GE 06 agreement) ratified by the Albanian Assembly.  In order to achieve this objective, the three following components must be implemented, each having a different mission and characteristics: Digitalization of the terrestrial analogue networks of the public broadcaster. Digitalization of the national private operators’ networks. Digitalization of the terrestrial analogue networks of the existing local operators DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT

Director of Digital Albania Department Head of Technical Secretariat Thank you ! Sidrit Malevi Director of Digital Albania Department Head of Technical Secretariat Sidrit.malevi@km.gov.al DIGITAL ALBANIA