Digital Television in the Pacific
An element of integrated information services
ITU Seminar on Spectrum Management and Terrestrial TV Broadcast
Nandi, Fiji, 11 July 2015
Colin J Knowles
ITU Expert
Managing Director
Colin Knowles and Associates Pty Ltd
colin.knowles@bigpond.com
Digital Television in The Pacific
Overview
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ITU Support for Digital Migration
DTTB Challenges for Pacific Nations
Standards Options and Harmonization
Broadband and Other Delivery of Services
Resourcing Digital Initiatives
Role of Government
Quantifying the Benefits
ITU Support for Digital Migration
• Guidelines for Migration – Digital Dividend
• Development of Digital Television migration
roadmaps
• Fiji, Kirabati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, PNG,
Tonga ….
• Roadmap provides strategic guidance and
support for migration activities
• Implementation is a National issue for
Governments
DTTB Challenges for Pacific Nations
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Population often widely dispersed
Basic services are sometimes limited : eg electricity
Difficulty in sustaining operations and infrastructure
Skills base
Distance and time and cost of external support
Basic telecommunications a priority
Viewing situations often different to those of
developed countries.
• Funding for new infrastructure
• Affordability of receivers
The Broadcast Evolution and
Contribution to Convergence
Image courtesy:
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/05/Sony-Timeline-HD2.jpg
Broadband and Other Delivery of Services
• Broadband wired and wireless
• Rapid advancement in compression
technologies and data delivery capacity:
satellite, fibre, copper, wireless
• Development of new services: VOD, IPTV,
Smart TV, Video Telephony
Technology Life Cycles are becoming
shorter
Image Source
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkV_hrkt3n4/UKrrbucfk_I/AAAAAAAAALU/T_tSGJKTUlM/s640/EdgarTimeline-Telephone-01.png
Convert your PC to a Digital Television for AUD 32
Digital Development
• No longer possible to think in terms of single platform
• Innovation and user demands will outpace traditional
regulatory schemes
• ICT is about delivery of useful services – therefore
necessary regulation should be concerned with services
not technology and be platform agnostic
• All parties should embrace all aspects of ICT to enable
tailored and lower cost solutions to traditional difficult
problems. It provides the tools to enable program makers
to better tell their stories and make them more
compelling.
• Multi-platform delivery opens new opportunities.
Benefits Of Digital Technology
• Consumer Expectations and Needs in the Digital Age
• Relationship between Delivery Platforms
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DTV
Satellite
Mobile Telephony and Data Services
Cable Television
• Potential Contribution to National Development
– Infrastructure Sharing
– Delivery of New Types of Services
– Competition
• Content for Digital Television
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Digital Dividend
• Capacity freed up by migration of television
services to digital technology
• Main beneficiary is next generation telephony
• Generally not an issue in Pacific countries as
the “dividend” spectrum is not used for
television
• The migration dividend for LDCs may be in the
form of improved and more innovative services
at lower infrastructure cost
• Television (sound and images) remains a
powerful tool for education, information and
entertainment.
ICT in a National Context
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New learning opportunities
Improved access to information and services
Literacy Building
Lower costs of establishing national infrastructure
Improved communication essential for economic
development
• Improved communication support industry
development
Resourcing Digital Initiatives
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Infrastructure Planning and Establishment
Personnel Skills Development
Supply/Support Sourcing
Funding
Government Leadership is Critical
The Role of Government
• Establish Clear Policy Objectives across the
ICT/Broadcast/Telecommunications Landscape
• Establish a Management Framework to
Support Implementation at all Stages
• Source Infrastructure Funding
• Engage with all Participants and Service
Providers
DTV Opportunities and Contribution to
National Goals
• Multi-channel, HDTV, future prospects, Audio and Data on DTV
• Lower Infrastructure Costs
• Education, Information, Entertainment – Civic awareness and Cultural
development
• New Opportunities
• Competitive Services?
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Possible Policy Objectives
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Improve Access
Reduce Costs
Future Proofing
Encourage Competition and Diversity of Content
Interactive Services
Digital Dividend
Mobile Technologies?
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Summary
• Pacific Nations face many challenges on their
journey to reduce the digital divide
• Comprehensive strategic planning is essential so
that there is not inappropriate overemphasis on
only one aspect (eg telecommunications,
broadcast etc..)
• Proper Plans can assist in gaining financial and
other support
• We must ensure that any investment is sustainable
in the long term.