We know that the efficient use of the frequency spectrum can generate digital dividends...Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs has urged digital broadcast multiplexing (MUX) operators to fulfill their commitment to providing set-top box (STB) assistance to impoverished people.
"I ask MUX operators to realize their commitment to distributing STBs to poor households,” Deputy for the Coordination of Communication, Information, and Apparatus at the coordinating ministry Rear Marshal Arif Mustofa said on Tuesday.
During a hybrid information dissemination on the distribution of STB assistance in Bali, he said that to date, the quantum of STB assistance provided by MUX operators has remained far below their commitment.
The government recorded that MUX operators have disbursed only 306,403 STBs as assistance as of March 2, 2023, or 7.1 percent of the agreed commitment.
Meanwhile, the government has distributed 1,243,694 STB units, or nearly 100 percent of its commitment.
The government is targeting to provide the assistance to 5.6 million poor households throughout Indonesia so that they can still enjoy digital broadcasts on analog televisions.
It was agreed that the government will distribute 1.3 million STBs as assistance, while MUX operators will disburse the remaining 4.3 million units.
Hence, the deputy urged MUX operators to fulfill their commitment immediately so that the shift from analog to digital broadcasts can be realized more quickly.
He said that the implementation of digital broadcasting will provide many benefits to the community, for instance, in the development and economy sectors.
Once digital broadcasts have been fully implemented, Indonesia could also realize efficiency in the use of the frequency spectrum, Mustofa added.
"We know that the efficient use of the frequency spectrum can generate digital dividends -- which later can be utilized to improve high-speed Internet access, disaster mitigation, education, as well as the digital economy," he said.
The Communication and Information Ministry is planning to carry out the analog switch-off (ASO) in the Bali, South Kalimantan 1, and South Sumatra 1 broadcasting areas on March 20.
The government has said that STB distribution to impoverished households in the three broadcasting areas has reached 45 percent as of March 1.
Related news: Indonesians urged to buy certified set-top boxes to watch digital TV
Related news: C Kalimantan bolsters media literacy amid digital switchover
Translator: Livia Kristianti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
