"We hope 6.8 million set-top box units could be distributed to low-income residents who still use tube television sets before November 2, 2022," the Communication and Informatics Minister's expert staff for legal affairs, Henri Subiakto, stated on Wednesday.
The government had earlier planned to commence the distribution process in mid-2021, but due to the analog switch-off delay, it will commence the distribution process and reschedule the timetable based on the new switch-off phasing date, he informed.
The first phase of the switch-off has now been rescheduled for April 30, 2022, while the second phase will be conducted at the end of August 2022, and the third phase is expected to start by November 2022, he said.
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The set-top boxes will be distributed to low-income residents who cannot afford to purchase digital television sets and whose names are included in the Social Affairs Ministry's benefit recipients database.
Only Indonesians with a verified personal ID card who are living within areas covered by terrestrial television broadcast and owning analog television sets are eligible to get the set-top box units, the expert staff stated.
He admitted the set-top box distribution would be complex as the authorities will need to verify each family and the television units owned by it.
The government has currently conceived several methods for a feasible set-top box distribution process, including providing a centralized pick-up point at local government or post offices and direct distribution to recipients' homes, he said.
The authorities have suggested that residents owning a tube television unit who are not included in the set-top box benefit recipients' list purchase a set-top box unit certified by the national standard, he added.
Residents who own a digital television set do not need to purchase a set-top box, as their television is capable of receiving digital signals, he said.
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Translator: Natisha A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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