Recently, the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications announced the project on broadcast TV digitalisation by 2020. The main objective of this project is that by 2020 the transmission of channels for politics will be broadcast to 80 percent of the Vietnamese population. The Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Le Nam Thang, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, on this major undertaking. Anh Phuong reports.
Could you tell us more about the deployment of the project?
On December 27, 2011, the Prime Minister issued Decision 2451/QD-TTg approving the project on transmission, terrestrial TV broadcasting digitalisation by 2020.
Specifically, by 2020 it’s required to convert transmission infrastructure, terrestrial television broadcasting from analog technology to digital technology in modern, efficient, uniform standards and technology to enhance the quality of services, increase the number of channels, improve frequency efficiency, while opening frequency bands for the development of information services and mobile broadband radio. In addition, this digitisation scheme also aims to gradually expand digital terrestrial television coverage to serve the economic development, culture and society, offering a variety of high-quality TV services (such as HDTV, 3DTV, etc.); form and improve transmission market and digital terrestrial television broadcasting in order to attract social resources; and create conditions for organising and rearranging the broadcast system across the country in the direction of specialisation and professionalism. The specific objective of the project digital terrestrial television by 2015 is to ensure 80 percent of households with television sets across the country can view digital television by different methods. Vietnam would strive for the digital terrestrial TV coverage to transmit the programme channels serving political tasks to 60 percent of the population. By 2020, Vietnam ensures that all households with television sets across the country will be able to view digital television by different methods, with digital television coverage of transmission channel programs for major tasks reaching up to 80 percent of the population.
Technically, as approved by the Prime Minister, digital terrestrial TV was selected as terrestrial digital TV standard DVB-T and the next version (the European digital TV standard); applied coding standard MPEG-4 images and audio. At the end of broadcast television, the current analog television will not get terrestrial digital TV signal and have to be installed digital terrestrial television station. The State will support poor households, near poor households and households under preferential treatment policy to buy terrestrial digital TV receivers, and at the same time regulate TV manufacturers and importers in Vietnam to integrate digital terrestrial TV with receivers on schedule for each category.
On a plan, the project will be implemented in four phases with four zones of the country, namely:
Phase I: implementation of digital terrestrial television in 5 cities directly under the Central Government: inner Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho. It is expected to end the broadcast of all TV channels on the transmission infrastructure, analog television broadcasting ground and convert completely to digital terrestrial television by 31 December 2015.
Phase II: implementation of digital terrestrial television in the next 26 provinces, including Hanoi (expanded), Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, Khanh Hoa Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, An Giang, Hau Giang; it’s scheduled to stop broadcasting analog signal to convert entirely to digital terrestrial television by December 3, 2016.
Phase III: implementation of digital terrestrial television in the next 18 provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Kien Giang; it’s scheduled to stop broadcasting analog signal to convert entirely to digital terrestrial television by December 31, 2018.
Phase IV: implementation of digital terrestrial television in the remaining provinces and remote areas of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lang Son, Dien Bien, Lai Chau , Son La, Hoa Binh, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong; it’s scheduled to stop broadcasting analog television signal to complete the transition to digital terrestrial television before December 31, 2020.
This is a major policy and has a direct impact on numerous people in different regions of the country, what is the support policy of the state?
Specifically, the State will provide partial funding for the poor, near poor, and families under preferential treatment policy, also regulate TV manufacturers and importers in Vietnam to integrate terrestrial digital TV receivers on the schedule from 1 April 2014 to all televisions with screens over 32 inches; and from January 4, 2015 for television sets with screens 32 inches or below. Devices to capture TV signals meeting the "standard" in the market are being sold at a price of VND 400,000 to VND 500,000, but when integrated into TVs, prices will be just about US$7 -10. This is also the price calculated for low-income families. Therefore, it will not affect the cost for the majority of people.
However, at present there are still many charged service providers hindering people from watching broadcast TV when the digitalisation route is implemented, how can you explain this?
It is true that some digital terrestrial television providers, such as AVG, VTC and VTV are charging viewers. But when the project is implemented, according to the provisions, the receiver of the business will not be allowed to lock essential channels. As for channels essential for socio-political purposes like VTV1, VTV2 and VTC1, they will still be free of charge and the Ministry of Information and Communications shall list the specific channels.
Mr Doan Quang Hoan, Director of the Radio Frequency Department (Ministry of Information and Communications)
If the project is successfully implemented, it will be a great leverage to create a large fund for service delivery units to reinvest in television production, as well as improve the quality of television services. On the other hand, technical aspects of the integration of the receiver in TV units will help reduce costs and bring convenience to consumers. Currently, a digital receiver’s cost is about US$30 (VND600,000) and is distributed by digital television providers to over a million people and has limited programs. In the long term, with an integrated TV receiver, people can catch signals of all television stations. Components integrated in the TV price from only US$7 to 10 will not affect the product.
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