Decision by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Use the Japanese Format for Its Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting
The adoption of the ISDB-T format by the government of Venezuela
MIC has been working together with related government agencies, broadcasters, manufacturers and research organizations, and has dispatched specialists to conduct seminars as well as sent transmitting equipment in order to implement actual demonstrations, and invited relevant people from Venezuela to Japan so that they could grasp the level of penetration in Japan.
As a result, following on from Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile, Venezuela made the decision to adopt the ISDB-T format and a memorandum concerning the introduction of ISDB-T was signed between Venezuela and Japan.
MIC's future involvement
MIC will continue to work with relevant organizations, and following the lines of the signed memorandum, has set up a joint operation panel for consultations on necessary measures in looking ahead to the smooth introduction of ISDB-T in Venezuela, and is planning to implement technical cooperation and support in educating personnel.
MIC will continue to cooperate closely with Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela, and work towards further overseas penetration of the ISDB-T format.
(Reference)
1. The Japanese format (ISDB-T)
There are currently three formats in existence for terrestrial digital broadcasting that are approved international standards. They are the Japanese format of ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial), the European format of DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial), and the American format of ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee). ISDB-T is superior in comparison to the other formats, in that it is resistant to radio disturbance and interference, has technological superiority in that signals can be received even in motion, and has an economic advantage in that costs are reduced because transmissions can be made from a single transmitter for both mobile devices (one-seg) and high-vision transmissions, making it cheaper overall.
Brazil adopted the ISDB-T format in June 2006, and started broadcasts in December 2007. Broadcasts are currently reaching 23 cities (covering 65% of the population).
Peru adopted ISDB-T in April 2009, Argentina in August of the same year, and Chie in September. All are planning to start broadcasts in the near future.
2. The state of the overseas spread of ISDB-T
Japan is cooperating with Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile, which have already adopted the format, and working in the various South American countries that have yet to make a decision (Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, etc.). In Asia, work is under way for adoption in the Philippines.
Number of Subscription Contracts to Broadband Services (As of End of June 2009)
Main Points
The number of broadband subscription contracts stood at 30.93 million
The number of subscription contracts to broadband services*1 as of the end of June 2009 stood at 30.93 million. The number of subscription contracts stood at 30.33 million as of the end of March 2009, showing an increase of 600,000.
The number of subscription contracts for FTTH access services stood at 15.89 million
The number of subscription contracts to FTTH access services stood at 15.89 million (an increase of 870,000 over the previous term), and the share of FTTH within broadband services surpassed 50% for the first time.
- Broadband services include FTTH access services, DSL access services, CATV access services, FWA access services, and BWA access services
FTTH access services: Access services that connect to networks using optical fiber lines (this also includes some VDSL that uses telephone lines in the case of apartment housing)
DSL access services: Access services that connect to networks using telephone lines (metal lines) (ADSL etc)
CATV access services: Access services that connect to networks using cable TV lines
FWA services: Access services that connect wirelessly to networks using a fixed user terminal
BWA access services: Access services that connect to networks using wide area mobile wireless access systems in the 2.5GHz range - The figures in parentheses show the percentage of total broadband services of each service
- Corrections were made to the total for broadband services and the value for CATV access services as of the end of March 2009. The corrected figures are underlined.
NB: Figures were calculated from reports as specified in the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business. (Figures prior to the end of March 2004 were calculated from information submitted by operators on a voluntary basis.)