Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD stated that the analog switch-off (ASO), or the transition from analog television (TV) broadcasts to digital broadcasts, would commence from November 2, 2022, with gradual progress.

"Hence, in conclusion, this transition from analog to digital (TV) will be implemented on November 2 and will be commenced gradually," the minister remarked at a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs' Office here on Monday, as quoted from their official YouTube channel.

He said the choice was made since some infrastructure facilities, such as set top boxes, had yet to be distributed by several private TV stations, while on the other hand, the government, in this case the Communication and Informatics Ministry and TVRI, had completed the distribution of set top boxes.

Until now, only 4.4 percent of private televisions had distributed set top boxes, the ministry remarked.

"Hence, government-wise, we are ready, and all there is left is just the private sector. Afterwards, we will do it together. However, in general, we will comply with the provisions of the law," he noted.

The analog switch-off policy is a mandate from Law Number 11 of 2020 on Job Creation.

On the same occasion, Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate said that of the 514 districts and cities in Indonesia, eight districts and cities are in four broadcast areas in which the ASO policy had been imposed in April 2022.

Furthermore, the analog switch-off policy would take effect on November 2, 2022, in the Greater Jakarta area that comprises nine districts and cities.

“However, 173 districts and cities have non-terrestrial service or no terrestrial TV service. Thus, there are 222 districts and cities with total analog switch-off, and there are still 292 districts and cities in which we will implement analog switch-off in accordance with the regional readiness," Minister Plate stated.

He also said that on November 2, 2022, the entire multiplexing infrastructure (MUX) will be available, prepared by MUX organizers, either from private televisions that already have licenses and the government that in this case is the Communication and Informatics Ministry and TVRI. However, distribution-wise, it still needed to be perfected, so the ASO is implemented gradually.

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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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