We have also distributed 1.4 billion sets of set-top box decoders and 1.6 billion transmitters."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - China is ready to assist Indonesia in developing a digital television network.
China Digital TV is the leading provider of conditional access (CA) systems to its home country`s expanding digital cable, satellite, terrestrial, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and mobile television markets.
CA systems enable television network operators to manage the delivery of content and services to their subscribers and block unauthorized access to their networks.
In light of this, the Chinese Vice Director of Division of Audiovisual of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhou Haiyan, expressed his readiness to support the digital TV cooperation with Indonesia.
He made the statement after the "International Broadcast and Multimedia Show 2012 China Week" in Jakarta, which was held during June 4-6, 2012.
"The People`s Republic of China and Indonesia are the world`s most populous countries and, therefore, they have similar requirements in terms of the implementation of digital television network," Zhou said.
He pointed out the implementation of digital TV in China in 2011 reached 1.2 billion households, or 56 percent of the total population of the country.
"We have also distributed 1.4 billion sets of set-top box decoders and 1.6 billion transmitters," Zhou said.
Therefore, he noted, China would like to share its broadcasting technology, products, and services with Indonesia.
"In 2018, we hope that 100 percent of the population in Indonesia and the People`s Republic of China will be connected with digital TV broadcast," Zhou added.
The China Digital TV, as of December 31, 2011, had installed CA systems at more than 300 digital television network operators across mainland China and shipped approximately 66.2 million CA smart cards.
According to third-party data, China Digital TV captured around 57 percent of the market share in smart card shipment in China in 2011.
Therefore, Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring said his office and China Radio Television Equipment Association (CRTA) would cooperate to develop digital television services in Indonesia.
China Radio and TV Association is a national broadcasting organisation.
It is a professional, non-profit social group, comprising volunteers from various broadcasting and TV stations in the country.
"The cooperation will improve investment partnership between Indonesia and China in the field of broadcasting and telecommunication," the minister said.
According to Tifatul, the cooperation with China in digital TV development is a follow-up of an agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 2010 during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit to China.
As per the cooperation agreement, China will provide technology and investment capital to expand the broadcast network in Indonesia.
Based on a decision made by the members of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), all countries should migrate to digital TV by June 2015, but Indonesia has been allowed to do so by 2018.
However, all countries, including Indonesia, were free to choose their digital broadcasting technology, Tifatul explained.
Meanwhile, TV stations in Indonesia have welcomed the cooperation, in which China will supply Indonesia with digital broadcasting devices, some of which were showcased at The International Broadcast and Multimedia Show 2012 China Week event.
"The digital broadcasting devices from China are known to be of high quality with a competitive price. Therefore, we welcome the cooperation," Director of Bali TV News Agency Dewi Martika said here on Wednesday.
Actually, it was she who had put forward the idea of digital TV cooperation during a friendly discussion between the delegates from China Radio and TV Equipment Industrial Association (CRTA) and the members of Indonesia`s broadcasting community.
Dewi had expressed hope that the discussion at the event would lead to a real partnership between Indonesia`s broadcasting industry and several Chinese companies that provided television and radio services.
"As a community television station, we realise that Bali TV does not own advanced equipment as of our peers from Jakarta do. Therefore, we will welcome good-quality digital broadcasting devices from China with open arms," she said.
Meanwhile, an official from TVRI station, Maris Sany, said it was clear at the event that China`s technology was in no way inferior to technology from the West.
"The technology of digital broadcasting from China is extremely advanced, and it is perfect to meet Indonesia`s needs, as there are many stations that cannot rely on analogue broadcasting, especially the secluded regions that are far from satellite towers," Sany added.
Sany also stated the perception that cheap Chinese products lacked in quality had been dispelled during the event.
The event itself was also a form of cooperation between China and Indonesia, aimed at expanding the broadcasting network in Indonesia from a technological and investment aspect.
CRTA said it had not signed any contracts during the event, because it was focusing on introducing its products into the Indonesian market.
The television was introduced to Indonesia on August 24, 1962, by the state-run TVRI, which began broadcasting on the 17th anniversary of Indonesian independence.
TVRI had a monopoly in the country until 1989, when the first commercial station, Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI), began as a local station and was subsequently granted a national licence a year later. (*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
