OREANDA-NEWS. The transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting is a worldwide practice due to the mutual international obligations of the International Telecommunication Union Member States, including the Republic of Belarus.

In accordance with the Final Acts of the Regional Conference on the Development of Radio communication, adopted in Geneva in 2006, analogue terrestrial television broadcasting at a frequency bands of 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz in the world is to be switched off no later than on June 17, 2015. After this period the protection of these radio frequency assignments (radio frequency) will no longer be provided at the international level.

In the Republic of Belarus, the activities to switch off analog television broadcasting have been carried out in accordance with the Phased switch off schedule.

The first switch offs in our country were carried out at the end of 2013, when analog television transmitters of decimeter waves were disabled in the following settlements: Osipovichi, Zhlobin, Yasny Les (Bobruisk) and Kostyukovichi.

During the period from 2013 to 2015 years, analog television broadcasting in the Republic of Belarus has been stopped at 42 radio and television transmitting stations (RTTS), where about 176 analog transmitters were involved.

At the moment, the necessary activities to switch off all analog television transmitters operating in III - V wave bands (174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz) and being subject to the agreement Geneva 2006 have been completed.

Thus, the Republic of Belarus together with a number of other countries in a timely manner and in full has complied with its international obligations in terms of the spread of television programs broadcasting in an analog format.

There is a network of digital television broadcasting built in the country for the broadcasting of television programs. It covers of the area with more than 99 percent of the population with digital terrestrial television broadcasting of DVB-T standard. 91 digital television transmitters, which provide mandatory public package broadcasting, consisting of 8 television programs and one audio program "First National Channel of the Belarusian Radio", have been put in operation.

The phased switch off schedule of analog television broadcasting has enabled to start the provision of commercial digital terrestrial television broadcasting of DVB-T standard alongside with it, which in turn leads to the reduction in the digital divide between urban and rural population. Today, there are about 40 television programs of widest subjects’ coverage that are being broadcasted. The coverage area of the second and third multiplexes is 92 and 89 percent of the population respectively, and the numbers continue to grow.

Together with the parties concerned the activities to broaden the range of services available in the framework of digital television broadcasting are being carried out. They involve electronic program guide (EPG), the format of television broadcasting with the aspect ratio of 16: 9, stereo broadcasting, broadcasting of HD television channels, etc.

The Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus expressed its confidence that modern technologies of digital terrestrial television broadcasting will enable the population to fully enjoy all the benefits and quality of digital television signal broadcasting.

The radio frequency resource released due to the analogue television broadcasting switch off will be used for the implementation of other new modern technologies and telecommunication services for the population in accordance with the international decisions adopted in this sphere.