Philippines endorses adoption of Japanese digital TV standard

The Philippines National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is backing the adoption of the Japanese digital TV standard to replace the analogue system in the country by 2015, abs-cbnnews.com reports.

Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the NTC endorsed the adoption of Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial or ISDB-T standard to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) last December.

Cordoba said the DOST, which is in charge of big projects involving technology, will make the recommendation to Malacanang (Office of the President).

The Philippine government is targeting to replace its analogue system with digital broadcast technology by 2015. It has studied Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial, and Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial 2.

Cordoba said the NTC chose the Japanese standard because it is cheaper than the European standard. Another advantage of the Japanese standard is that it can also be used as an early warning mechanism during natural disasters.