Digital TV services to be introduced in Bangladesh by 2014

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will help Bangladesh roll out a digital terrestrial television (DTTV) system by 2014, theindependentbd.com reports.

According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), during a recent visit to Bangladesh, the ITU Deputy Secretary General Houlin Zhao offered assistance for the BTRC to introduce the DTTV service.

The purpose of introducing digital terrestrial television is to reduce the use of spectrum, and provide greater capacity and sharper picture than the analogue system does, at lower operating costs, although the change of technology involves initial upgrade expenses, a BTRC expert explained.

Currently, the country has an analogue terrestrial system, because of which about 175 Mhz of bandwidth, worth Tk. 25,000 crore, is lying unused, with the implementation of DTTV, this huge amount of bandwidth can be utilised effectively and the subscribers will get better transmission, with higher resolution, the BTRC sources said.

BTRC chairman Maj Gen Zia Ahmed told The Independent that with the introduction of DTTV, the broadcasting system of the country would enter a new era.