Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) - Status in the Republic of Argentina

In May 2003, the Administration of Argentina began reviewing its policy for the introduction of digital terrestrial television (DTT), defining a strategy aimed at providing the national scientific and technological sector with the opportunity to generate solutions that would contemplate the development of local industry, respond to the need to create productive employment and contribute to greater social equity.

The approach adopted is based on an understanding that DTT is not only the technical development of the current television but also that it constitutes a new and formidable communication “system” based on digital technology for the transmission of signals, whose correct introduction may afford the aforesaid benefits.

Implementation:

Among the intensive activities that are being implemented with a view to achieving the established objective, is the meeting on digital television organized by the Communications Secretariat (CS) together with the Asociación de Teleradiodifusoras Argentinas (ATA), held on 29 September of this year.

The meeting was held for the purpose of enabling the different actors involved in the development of the DTT “system”, of the public sector and the private sector, to convey to society both the possibilities and the expectations associated with the definition of the service / business models and the selection of the technological platforms that are best suited to national needs.

The participants included representatives of the Executive and Legislative Branches and of public and private institutions and organizations, namely, the Honorable Chambers of Deputies and Senators, the Secretariat of Industry, Trade and Small and Medium Businesses, Comité Federal de Radiodifusion (COMFER), Comision Nacional de Comunicaciones (CNC), Asociación de Radiodifusoras Privadas Argentinas (ARPA), Asociación de Fabricantes Argentinos de Terminales Electrónicas (AFARTE), Banco de la Nación Argentina, Banco de Inversion y Comercio Exterior (BICE) and the Buenos Aires Commodity Exchange, among others, with the added presence of the Secretary of Telecommunications of the Federal Republic of Brazil, as a special guest.

The Secretary of Communications offered assurances that the positive macroeconomic indicators would be maintained in the medium and long term, thereby encouraging the sector´s entrepreneurs to make investments in business projects associated with the development of DTT that would promote production and the creation of jobs.

After the opening session, groups of panelists were established to analyze legal, economic and technical aspects associated with the introduction of DTT in the country: a) technological platforms for digital broadcasting (of television and sound) and experiences in the transmission and production of programs; b) legislation associated with broadcasting services and the role of the Executive Branch institutions with shared responsibility in this area; c) financing alternatives for the development of industrial complexes linked to digital broadcasting (of television and sound); d) challenges posed by the technological transformation of broadcasting services.

During the course of the meeting there was a live transmission of DTT, from local television and radio broadcasters, by way of a demonstration.

The overall result was positive: television station licensees briefly discussed the knowledge accumulated as a result of the experimental tests that have been carried out for more than 6 years, equipment manufacturers emphasized that they have the necessary technical means to provide digital receptors of equal quality to those originating in the countries that developed the technology, COMFER and the CNC made a commitment to increase their efforts to make the best possible use of the radioelectric spectrum and representatives of the public sector banks and of the Commodities Exchange described alternatives for the low-cost financing of productive investments.

Finally, the incumbents of the Secretariat of Communications and the Secretariat of Industry, Trade and of Small and Medium Businesses issued general guidelines for the definition of clear rules which, based on the defense of national interests, in the context of the current reindustrialization process, would promote the sector´s growth, encouraging investment and the generation of an industrial complex of equipment and contents associated with this new technology, that will enable the country to participate in the global opportunities that will emerge as a result of the introduction of DTT in the continent.

This multiplicity of technological, socioeconomic and political – regulatory issues, which includes analysis of the costs associated with royalties and patents, addressed through a methodological effort based on a multidisciplinary vision, involving all actors of society with an interest in the subject, will provide elements that the Government of Argentina will consider in order to elect the most appropriate technological platform (standard) for the DTT “system”.

The Administration of Argentina therefore considers that the process to implement DTT has effectively begun in the country, based on the actions that the State and the private sector will carry out together in order to achieve a competitive presence in the development of the new and formidable communication “system”.

Carlos Cancelli
Adviser to the Secretary of Communications
Secretariat of Communications
E.mail: ccancelli@secom.gov.ar