Launch of Trial Digital Terrestrial TV Broadcasting in Tatarstan

  A ceremony in honor of the launch of a pilot digital terrestrial TV broadcasting in Tatarstan took place at the TV company “Ether” with the participation of the Republic’s President Mintimer Tshaimijev.

  “The Switch to digital TV is not just a positive event, it is quite necessary. There is no need for doubt, the time demands to a new step. We have seen changes more than once: a few years ago the world switched to compact discs, though all the audio medium producers were sure that they would have losses. Then the time of mobile phones came, liquid-crystal displays started being produced. Information technology is developing very rapidly” – stated President Tshaimijev in his speech.

  The chief manager of the project of digital TV development in Russia, General Director of “TV-Technopark” Llc., Alexander Fedotov recalled that last year in April an agreement on digital TV development in Tatarstan was concluded between the Republic Government and the company “Radiotelecom”. The results of the agreement were obvious to those in attendance at the ceremony.

  “Upon realization of the project the population will receive access to a common information space. The switch to “digits” is very timely indeed and Russia is leading the way in this matter. It should be noted that this process demands heavy expenses, thus I’d like to express my admiration for the courage of my Tatarstan colleagues. Knowing their professionalism, we can predict that by the end of next year all the citizens of the Republic will be able to access the advantages of digital television” – said Alexander Fedotov.

  The General Director of “Radiotelecom” Llc. Alexey Hohlov demonstrated to the attendees a map of Tatarstan, upon which the quality of analog TV signal reception was marked out with the use of different colors. More than half of the Republic’s territory lay in the weak signal detection area (2 or 3 channels available). Digital TV broadcasting is intended to provide these regions with high quality reception of TV channels. For this purpose in 55 spots around the Republic there will be installed two digital transmitters per spot. The first spot is already operating in Verkhny Uslon, and can supply digital broadcasting for Kazan and its suburb, Zelenodolsk, Verkhny Uslon District, Vysokogorsky District, Pestrechensky District and part of the Laishevsky District. According to Mr. Hohlov the next districts to be covered are Tukaevsky, Nizhnekamsky and Sabinsky.

  The Federal Program stipulates that the switch to digital TV is to be completed by 2012. However the Minister of Information and Communications of Tatarstan, Farit Fazylyanov, stated that in his opinion these plans must be implemented in the Republic by 2008. He appealed to the Project Leadership to pay attention first of all to the rural areas, where the need of the population for increasing signal quality is the question of the day.

  The official part of the ceremony ended with the launch of trial digital terrestrial TV broadcasting performed by the President of Tatarstan. 18 channels are broadcasted in digital mode at present. To view them the citizens of Tatarstan require STBs, which are to appear in shops soon and which allow for the reception of digital signals and viewing of the programs on ordinary analog TV screen.

  Upon completion of the ceremony Alexander Fedotov reported to the press: “The delivery is expected not earlier than within a week. It is not known exactly which trade networks will sell the devices, however we can name the price – approximately 2900 roubles.”. To the question asked by Intertat.ru about production the director of “TV-Technopark” informed the attendees that the STBs are manufactured by the General Satellite Corporation (St.Petersburg) at its own production facilities in Kaliningrad.

  Alexander Fedotov clarified that during the pilot broadcasting there is no subscriber fee for using the digital signal. However once service has begun under the full transmission mode customers will be required to pay. Furthermore a benefits package is specified including programs received for the moment by ordinary analog TV. The population will view them at the price equal to the antenna usage price – 25 roubles per month (in total about 15 channels). Everything else is a kind of commercial package. “However it is only one of the possible package options”. Special enterprises will be engaged in the installation and technical support of the STBs.

  In comparison to analog TV, digital TV receives more programs in one HF band (8 and more), and in perspective – 10 channels instead of one analog channel. Moreover it is distinguished by lower radiated power required for providing the area of coverage (or a higher resistance to interfering signals of the same power). The digital TV is also notable for its higher transmission quality and such features as terrestrial broadcast at one frequency networking, mobile reception, and simultaneous transmission of auxiliary information. It also includes a specific feature for feedback to the viewer, which includes marketing and social polls, voting, educational programs, and new advanced level of TV-sales. A customer can program an individual set of TV programs to his own taste and exclude ads.