Colombia studies moving to DVB-T2

The National Television Commission (CNTV) of Colombia is analyzing the possibility of changing the Digital Terrestrial Television standard (DVB-T) to its most recent evolution (DVB-T2).

Although DVB-T was formally adopted three years ago, with operators such as Caracol and RCN broadcasting in this format, Colombia is now considering making the leap to the DVB-T2 evolution in order to make the deployment of the digital network cheaper with greater coverage.

Likewise, spectrum is saved, allowing the transmission of more channels in high definition and 3D content.

At this crossroads, the Minister of ICT, Diego Molano, has admitted that the question is “how the transition is made, and that is the responsibility of the Television Commission.”

Mauricio Samudio, member of the CNTV board of directors and at the time in charge of the DTT project, according to the newspaper The Time He explained that they are in talks with operators and equipment manufacturers to find “the most convenient decision.” “This is the right time to update the standard, since in the future, anyway, it will have to be done,” said the commissioner.

It is worth remembering that CNTV said in November 2009 that the choice of the standard “was a serious decision, widely analyzed, based on complete studies.” However, it did not take into account that the update of the standard had been in progress - since 2008 - and approved a system for televisions, decoders and transmitters that would not work with the new technology.

The National Television Commission (CNTV) and National Radio Television of Colombia (RTVC) confirmed that, due to adjustments in the implementation of technology and the structuring of a new tender, the public channels (Señal Colombia, Canal Institucional and Canal UNO) will begin to broadcast their digital signal in 2012.

The Government's initial schedule indicated that this step should be taken in June of last year. Meanwhile, the tender, which will be carried out by RTVC and which will be responsible for the purchase and installation of transmitters, will start within a month at the latest, according to the entity's manager, Francisco Ortiz. “Everything depends on the resources being assigned and defined” by the CNTV, he explained.

The CNTV has already approved the disbursement of 27 million dollars for the implementation of the first stage of the project, in which 13 towers will be installed that will cover 46 percent of the national geography.