The Communication and Informatics Ministry reminded the public to immediately install set top box devices ahead of the cessation of analog terrestrial television broadcasts in some regions in Indonesia starting from Wednesday, November 2.

“We urge people, who are able to immediately get a set top box certified by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics,” Special Staff of the Communication and Informatics Ministry Rosarita Niken Widiastuti stated during the webinar on Information Dissemination on ASO and STB Aid Handover Ceremony from the Communication and Informatics Ministry along with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Tuesday.

A set top box is a device to capture digital broadcasts on analog television sets, so that people do not need to buy a new television. Set top box serves to convert digital signals into sound and images on analog television sets.

People also do not need to buy a satellite dish to watch digital broadcasts, just a UHF antenna.

The government and multiplexing providers prepare subsidies for free set top boxes for poor households that have television sets. Data on poor households comes from the Social Affairs Ministry that has been verified by the Home Affairs Ministry and regional governments.

Widiastuti said that the subsidy set top boxes, both from the government and the multiplexing provider, were sent directly to the address of the beneficiary, and there was no need to come to a place to collect the subsidy.

He stated that analogue broadcasts that were halted on November 2 were for the administrative areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi; 32 districts and cities; and 173 districts and cities that, so far, had not received terrestrial television broadcasts.

Analog broadcasts in other regions will cease once the set top box subsidy has been thoroughly distributed in the region.

The public can download the digital TV signal application on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to view digital broadcasts that are already available at their homes.

The ministry once again reminded that digital broadcasting was free, there was no subscription fee, and did not require internet quota.

Source: Antara News