NBTC to open digital TV bids

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC),Thailand plans to issue 36 licences for commercial digital terrestrial television services in February, bangkokpost.com reports.

The reserve price for a commercial digital TV licence is set at no more than 500 million baht, said Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC’s broadcasting committee.

The NBTC’s broadcasting committee approved a 2012-16 roadmap for the broadcasting industry in the digital era.

He said the final draft is being studied by representatives of Chulalongkorn University and consultation is also being sought from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

There are 60 digital terrestrial TV channels divided into 3 groups: 36 channels for commercial digital TV and 12 channels each for public and community purposes.

The NBTC is working on deciding the number of high-definition channels as one channel consumes digital bandwidth equal to three standard definition channels.

Under the roadmap, the NBTC will issue infrastructure licences to companies in October and grant licences for providing digital TV services to the general public in December.