1. 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

2. DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT
Strategy was adopted by CoM Decision Nr. 292, dt
Interministerial Committee was established for the implementation of Digital Switchover Strategy. (Order Nr. 70, dt , 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

8. ACTION PLAN AND OBJECTIVES
Objectives of complete digital switchover
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

9. 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

10. DIGITAL ALBANIA DEPARTMENT
Immediate objectives
The switch off of analogue broadcastings:
First deadline : 31 December 2012 (Law no. 9742, dated “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

11. Director of Digital Albania Department Head of Technical Secretariat
Thank you !
Sidrit Malevi
Director of Digital Albania Department
Head of Technical Secretariat
DIGITAL ALBANIA