Bridging Asean’s Digital Divide
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Representatives from Asean countries are currently attending the 5th Asean Digital Broadcasting (ADB) meeting at the Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong, to address the issues of bridging the digital divide of Asean especially on specifications for a common Set-Top Box receiver, which is expected to be endorsed by the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information in 2009.

Speaking on the occasion was Pg Dato Paduka Hj Ismail bin Pg Hji Mohamed, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, who said: "One of the key outcomes or deliveries of Asean Digital Broadcasting is to provide loss cost Set-Top Boxes (STBs) for the general Asean community. People in the rural areas and villages are able to access this so-called new technological development of broadcasting, Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) and share the rich experience of digital new technology into their respective living rooms.

"The strategy is to create an economy of scale for the production of STBs, and digital broadcast equipment both for the domestic, professional and broadcast market. This will also create new business opportunities, including attracting potential investment to Asean," he added.

Citing back the previous ADS meetings, he said: "I believe we have achieved significant inroads in regional cooperation, not only in the adoption of a common digital terrestrial TV standard for the Asean region, but most importantly ADB has been recognised by the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI).

"This forum will be the platform for member countries to discuss, share, update knowledge and agree on action plans for the key strategic issues in enabling us to move forward and bringing us closer in establishing a common and sound digital implementation plan for Asean."

The permanent secretary hoped that the ADB meeting will continue to be the main driver and relevant implementing body for digital broadcasting cooperation within Asean.

The two-day meeting, which will end today, will also touch on setting up three specialist working groups on technology, policy and content in order to further discussions on a detailed DTV development work plan and to oversee the implementation process.

Some of the key issues expected to be discussed by the specialist working groups include member countries' schedules to commence digital broadcasting, switching off analogue broadcasting, facilitating digital content co-productions and training exchanges. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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