The Ministry of Communications and Informatics expects a frequency spectrum allocation for fast internet after the migration of terrestrial television broadcasting from analog to digital.
“The 700-MHz frequency is a gold band for the improvement of broadband internet,” Director General of Information and Public Communication Usman Kansong stated during a webinar “Government’s Strategy On Screen” here on Wednesday.
Kansong remarked that the entire 700-MHz frequency band is currently used for analog terrestrial television broadcasts that accounted for 328MHz of broadband.
He noted that the discontinuation of analog terrestrial television broadcasts, or called analog switch-off (ASO), will result in a digital dividend of 112MHz, as the efficiency outcome of the digital terrestrial broadcasting.
Kansong explained that during analog broadcasts, one frequency could solely be used for one television broadcast. However, in digital broadcasts, one frequency can be used for up to 12 television broadcasts.
The ministry will allocate a 98MHz band on the 700MHz frequency spectrum to enhance broadband internet.
Taking into account the increase in internet needs, Kansong remarked that the government is pursuing equalization of mobile networks through efforts including to realize it through broadcasting digitalization, or ASO.
Citing data from the Information and Telecommunication Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) of the Ministry, he noted that 4G network was available in only 49.33 percent of the regions in Indonesia.
He added that 3G network was available in only 44.35 percent of the regions.
Meanwhile, Kansong remarked that 2G networks were available in 68.54 percent of the regions in Indonesia.
Kansong pointed out that 9,113 villages in the foremost, outermost and underdeveloped areas (3T) have yet to avail the 4G network.
“To solve this, the government encourages the ASO and pushes for the television broadcast digitization,” he stated.
The government recently rescheduled the stages of ASO, wherein there were originally five stages starting this year, and it was changed to only three stages that will commence next year, he remarked.
The first phase of ASO will be executed no later than April 30, 2022, the second stage no later than August 25, 2022, and the last stage no later than November 2, 2022.
Currently, several television stations have conducted the simulcast method or analog and digital terrestrial broadcasting at the same time.
Source: Antara News