VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists believe that the currently used TV sets would still be useful for receiving image signals once Vietnam enters the digital TV era.

Many programs on the same frequency

Under the TV digitalization program, Vietnam would terminate the analog TV technology era to enter the digital TV era by 2020. Digital TV services would be provided in big cities and urban areas, where the average income per capita is higher than other localities, and would reach out to rural and remotes areas.

In the first phase of the program, analog TV would be stopped in Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho to be replaced by terrestrial digital TV prior to December 31, 2015.

In the second phase, the shifting to the terrestrial digital TV would be completed in 26 provinces and cities prior to December 31, 2016.

In the third phase, the utilization of the new technology would be completed in the remaining 18 localities, prior to December 31, 2018. From January 1, 2021, Vietnam will officially begin the digital TV era.

A report of the Development Strategy Institute, an arm of the Ministry of Information and Communication showed that about 6 million households nationwide still don’t have TV sets. Meanwhile, 63.69 percent of the existing TV sets now use analog TV technology.

Doan Quang Hoan, a senior official of the Ministry of Information and Communication, said the new technology would allow provide TV services in high quality, enabling to receiving HD and 3D programs.

The digitalization, once completed, would also help use the frequency bands in the most effective way. With the currently used analog TV, a waveband channel is just enough for broadcasting one TV program. Meanwhile, with the terrestrial digital TV, one channel would be enough for 20 programs.

According to Nguyen Huy Bao from the Military Technical Academy, the most outstanding feature of digital TV is the high fidelity. Besides, the TV programs could be easily saved into the hardware drives or disks, or copied with high quality.

“The technology of the future must allow to provide high quality images and content, not just “visible” images,” he said.

The multi-trillion dong revolution

Though affirming the advantages of the terrestrial digital TV, experts have warned that the “TV revolution” would cost trillions of dong, and that it would have influences to tens of millions of households in Vietnam.

Once Vietnam utilizes digital technology, the current 8.5 million analog TVs would not be able to receive images any more. TV viewers would have to use set top boxes to receive signals. One TV would be integrated to one set top box. As such, the 8.5 million households would have to buy set top boxes, if they want to continue watching TV.

It is estimated that a set top box would cost VND400,000-500,000, while if the set top box is integrated with TV, the price would be VND140,000-200,000.

According to Bao, when shifting to the digital TV technology, people would not have to throw away their current TV sets, but can still use them with additional set top boxes.

He went on to say that the TV sets which allow to receive terrestrial digital signs without set top boxes have been available on the market. However, they are too expensive to the majority of people.

Kien Thuc