The first international digital radio forum in the Dominican Republic

On June 13 and 14, 2007, the first international digital radio forum was held in the Dominican Republic, sponsored by INDOTEL. As its main objective, the forum provided information on advances in digital radio, the current situation of analog radio, and the implementation of this new technology in different countries of the region.

Over the event’s two days, important conferences were held and live demonstrations of digital transmissions given. The main industry experts, international authorities, and most Dominican radio broadcasters were gathered at the event.

In his insightful opening remarks, Dr. José Rafael Vargas, President of INDOTEL indicated that the future of radio, television, and the Internet lay fundamentally in content. “The future of radio is closely linked to the world of digital convergence.” He also indicated that, through digital technology, advantage could be taken of bandwidth, offering multiple services and obtaining the best from the benefits the technology afforded. Dominican radio broadcasters would incur no additional cost for the additional services provided by this new technology.

Also speaking at the event were Roberto Vargas, President of the Dominican Radio Broadcasters Association (ADORA); and Ronald Barbosa, representative of the Association of Radio Broadcasters of Brazil. Also attending was Ceferino Namuncurá, President of Regulatel and of the National Communication Commission of Argentina (CNC).

The main firms attending included iBIQUITY, of the In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) standard, and Digital Radio Mobile (DRM).

The forum was the first of its kind, and the first anywhere in the region to be sponsored by a regulatory body.

Now that the event has been held, the decision to implement digital radio is in the hands of the Dominican Republic’s radio broadcasters. The panelists also recommended that the country select the digital radio system it wished to implement and that it come into line with international standards. As regards digital receivers, their cost was admittedly high and alternatives had to be sought to reduce prices through the manufacturer and to reduce import taxes. In addition, human resource training programs on digital techniques, programming programs, and general public information programs on the use of digital radio had to be included.

An example was given from the United States, where radio broadcasters had given free time to large commercial chains for them to promote digital radio by offering introductory prices for digital receivers, while simultaneous transmission of today’s analog radio and digital radio were also being promoted. In addition, it was important for the public to have digital reception capacity as soon as possible so that the definitive transition to digital radio would be deemed to have been taken.

Another recommendation was that, at the time of launching the implementation of digital radio, time was spent to promote the new technology, and that a smooth, economical transition was made, with the analog audience continuing to use the service while promoting the digital audience; and that a digital technology was selected that provided the greatest possible return on investment and ensured efficient and economical large-scale return on content, i.e., the use of an easy-to-use, economical technology with low-cost protocols available on market.

Radio broadcasters were recommended to continue to provide training and to keep abreast of the different changes being made by equipment manufacturers through a program of activities on the new digital technology, taking advantage of training facilities offered by manufacturers. For Administrations, the implementation of digital radio would entail a need to establish new provisions on this technology.

The hardest part was to begin and, with activities such as this forum, the Dominican Republic had taken the first steps, it being incumbent upon radio broadcasters to continue the process of raising awareness of the new technology and to support one another.

For equipment investments, it was suggested that advantage be taken of offers of international financing or of each country’s private bank agreements.

Information was also provided on the development of radio broadcasting in the Latin American market, the advantages of digital radio technology, advances in the implementation of digital television, concepts for proper installation of digital radio, and the trials and challenges that digital radio would mean for radio broadcasters of the Dominican Republic and throughout Latin America.

For AM and short wave stations, implementation of digital radio would be a major step, since they would be able to compete commercially with FM stations owing to the technology’s audio quality, significantly reduced interference, and energy savings for transmitters.

Digital radio would contribute to better use of the spectrum, optimize frequency allocation, and provide higher quality radio.

Javier Garcia
Engineer Senior of the the Broadcasting Management
INDOTEL