Dominican Television Goes Digital

Dominican Television Goes Digital
Dominican Republic, 08/12/2010

The Dominican government announced, through decree 407-10, that it will take the first steps toward converting to digital television. The news was released at an event headed by José Rafael Vargas, president of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL).

The decree, emitted by Dominican President Leonel Fernández, is the result of a study undertaken by national and international technicians who worked together on the project.

The decree, emitted by Dominican President Leonel Fernández, is the result of a study undertaken by national and international technicians who worked together on the project.

Mr. Vargas said that beginning immediately, owners of television companies will have five years to put the digital systems into operation. He added that decree 407-10 signed by the Executive Branch will ¨completely change¨ television in the Dominican Republic, according to the Presidential Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

Vargas said “after having carried out a study and thorough evaluation over a period of five years and having consulted with the majority of television and radio providers, President Fernández decided to take this decision.”

At the press conference held in the Green Hall of the National Palace, Vargas said the move to digitalization is the biggest news ever to affect television in the DR. He said the process, which will begin immediately, should be finished in September 2015 when the analogical systems will come to an end in the Dominican Republic.

The INDOTEL president said the digitalization process of television on the part of television merchants should get underway soon with the deadline being 2015.

Vargas noted that beginning in 2015, the most important change Dominican television has experienced since its inception in the 1950s will go into effect. He announced that INDOTEL, through the Government Customs Office, will facilitate TV and radio merchants and provide whatever they need to bring their digital equipment into the country. To that end, he said he will set up a meeting between the Customs Office and representatives of television and radio stations in order to reach an agreement over how this is carried out.