ARMENIA’S TRANSFER TO DIGITAL SYSTEM OF TV AND RADIO BROADCASTING IS NECESSARY FOR COUNTRY’S INFORMATION SECURITY
ArmInfo
2008-09-10 12:41:00
ArmInfo. Armenia’s transfer to digital system of TV and Radio
broadcasting is necessary for country’s information security, RA
Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said today introducing the first
reading of draft alterations to the Law "On TV and Radio" in the
Armenian Parliament.
He said that Armenia joined the Agreement on international
telecommunications of Geneva conference, according to which the year
2015 has been established as a deadline for transfer to the digital
system for the countries of the European (first) frequency range,
moreover, this process will be fully over by 2010-1012 in the most
European countries.
‘Armenia must not fall behind of the international tendencies,
especially if our country does not transfer to the digital broadcasting
system, an issuer may be raised to deprive it of the frequencies it
presently possess that, naturally, may create a number of problems
regarding Armenia’s information security’, – N. Yeritsyan emphasized.
He said Armenia can start transition to the digital broadcasting
system beginning from 2010. He also added international assessments
are evidence of it. ‘Transition to the digital broadcasting system
is conditioned by the interests of wide layers of the society’, –
the minister said and added otherwise broadcasting of European TV
channels in Armenia will be difficult since the latter have already
start digital broadcasting or will do it in the near future. The
minister said that the two systems will co-exist till 2010 in order
to assure smooth transfer to the digital system. The minister also
said that international experts will hold audit of broadcasting over
the next two years and special inter-department commission will draw
out conception of the digital broadcasting system introduction and
certain actions stemming from it.
In general, transfer to the digital broadcasting system may sharply
reduce the number of available frequencies till 2010. The reduction
will be stipulated for the fact that digitization of broadcasting
envisages a transient period till 2010, during which TV and Radio
companies will be able to broadcast both in analogous and digital
mode: so, the number of occupied frequencies will double. ‘After the
broadcasting in Armenia finally transfers to the digital system,
the number of free frequencies will be at the previous level’,
the minister said. So, all those wishing can compete for the free
frequencies started 2010. It has been decided to complete the transient
period by 2010 as the terms of licenses of many TV and Radio companies
expires by that time.
Up to $100 mln may be spend for digitization of Armenian TV
broadcasting.
‘It is yet unclear which expenses will be born by transmitting
subjects, the governmental sector, as well as the country’s citizens,
as may turn out to be unavailable for some of them. N. Yeritsyan
also said that a preliminary figure of $100 mln has been deduced
taking into account the foreign countries’ experience. To note, the
parliament agreed with the government’s legislative initiative and
passed the first reading of the draft law.