First version of the guide for implementation of DTT in the Americas

In connection with digital terrestrial television (DTT), Permanent Consultative Committee II: Radiocommunications including Broadcasting (PCC.II) is to promote actions that provide support to states in their plans to transition as swiftly as possible from analog to digital terrestrial television, taking account of their individual economic and social conditions. In that connection, at its III Meeting, PCC.II adopted the first version of the guide for implementation of DTT in the Americas and a work program for DTT implementation. The two specific objectives of the guide are to explain the benefits of DTT and to assist OAS member states in their efforts to plan and implement it, profiting from the experiences of the countries that have made most headway in this task. The guide is a dynamic document that will be updated and expanded on an ongoing basis to include new information and outcomes of experiences of countries not yet included in the document.

The advantages of DTT

The advent of digital television implies a radical change in service quality as it enables operators to bring a high capacity wireless channel to each household.

Among the benefits of DTT are:

• Much higher quality images and CD-quality sound may be provided, in view of the behavior of digital signals vis-à-vis noise, interference, and multi-trajectory propagation.
   

• Interactive services may be provided, that is, it makes possible two-way communication between TV viewers and service providers so that information may be provided regarding transactions such as purchases and payments, stock reports may be accessed, etc.
   

• In the medium term, technological convergence is to make television the vehicle for or receiver of multiple functions, which will allow greater advantage to be taken in the Americas of the information age.
   

• The use of image and sound compression techniques enables broadcasters to offer simultaneously from four to six or even more Standard Definition Television (SDTV) programs utilizing a 6-MHz channel.
   

• Digital television systems use spectrum more efficiently than do analog systems, meaning that Administrations recover part of the spectrum used by television, which may be redeployed for other applications, such as broadband, public security, and commercial mobile communications, which are needed in many congested areas.
   

• It requires less transmission power.

The guide focuses on the national objectives of each country in its transition to DTT, providing the results of approaches taken by countries at more advanced stages. To that end, it relates policies to the reasons for their adoption and provides information on spectrum planning exercises and principles taken into account by countries in developing their spectrum plans and policies.

Implementation of the methodology proposed in the guide involves compilation of information and a review so that guidelines may be adopted to provide support for the installation of DTT within a reasonable period. Such guidelines might take account of:

 The availability of equipment on favorable terms of quality, diversity, and price;

• Potential development of new services;
   

• A market plan based on costs that consumers are willing to- absorb and broadcasters find acceptable;
   

• Territorial coverage that is gradually increasing but- sufficient for revenue to be attracted;
   

• A policy for standardization (and manufacture) of equipment- within periods compatible with the launch of DTT and its enhanced importance.

Félix Castro Rojas