Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics stated that the discontinuation of analog terrestrial television broadcast or analog switch-off (ASO) will be delayed until next year.

"Initially, the first stage will be conducted on August 17. However, on account of the pandemic, it will be conducted in three stages, starting from April 31, 2022," Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate revealed during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

The analog-to-digital migration for terrestrial television broadcast is stipulated in Law No. 11 of 2020 on Job Creation that states ASO must be conducted in two years at the latest, or by November 2, 2022.

On account of the regional vastness coupled with the complexity of broadcasting, the ministry took the decision to conduct ASO in stages.

Related news: Government reschedules to switch off analog TV broadcasts

Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 6 of 2021 stipulates that ASO will be conducted in five stages, with the first stage starting on August 17, 2021, at the latest.

Under the initial plan, the stage two of ASO will be conducted until Dec 31 at the latest, while stage three will be conducted until March 31, 2022, stage four until August 17, 2022, and the last stage until November 2, 2022.

After reviewing developments pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry decided to conduct ASO in three stages.

Stage two will be conducted until the end of August 2022 while stage three until the start of November 2022.

Transitioning to digital terrestrial television broadcast from analog is deemed crucial since it had been delayed since long and in order to support the availability of fast internet services in Indonesia.

After the migration, a digital dividend of 112MHz will be used to offer fast internet and natural disaster notification for communication gadgets. Related news: Market digitalization involves digital platform, TV for market growth
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Translator: Natisha A, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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