Today is the schedule for the analog TV broadcasts shutdown in the DKI Jakarta area. Like it or not, people have to migrate to digital TV. According to the government, this migration must be carried out so that several programs can be achieved.
Phase I of the Analog Switch Off (ASO) was carried out on April 30, 2022, covering 56 broadcast areas in 166 regencies/cities. However, at that time, it was announced that ASO would only be carried out in four areas in eight districts/cities.
Phase II of the ASO program should be implemented in several big cities such as Medan, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Banjarmasin, including the Greater Jakarta area.
The final stage of ASO is scheduled for November 2, 2022, for 25 broadcast areas in 63 districts/cities.
Although there are changes, the Minister of Communication and Information emphasized that the end of the ASO program is still the same as previously decided, namely November 2, 2022. Until that date, the termination of analog broadcasts will be carried out according to the readiness of each region.
Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate explained that the government has decided to shift the ASO method from three stages to multi-phase. This method, he explained, was carried out depending on the technical readiness of each region.
“Well, technically, multiple ASOs may also be carried out, which means that technically the analog will turn on and off, depending on technical issues. Until later, there will be a certain date that will be announced as full ASO Jabodetabek. We will determine the end of August or early September,” he explained.
The reason for the change, Johnny explained, was because he learned from the experiences of other countries that have ASO programs as well. According to him, it must be realistic to see the readiness in the country.
He explained that there were two problems in implementing ASO with a fixed deadline. The first is related to the readiness of the multiplex infrastructure which requires the ASO schedule to be adjusted. Second, related to set-top-box distribution.
After the analog TV broadcasts are turned off, people who already have digital TV can switch to watching digital TV broadcasts. For people who do not have a digital TV, there is no need to replace the TV set. Because digital broadcasts can be enjoyed using only a set-top-box (STB) device.
STB can be purchased both in offline and online stores with prices ranging from Rp. 150 thousand and some are priced at Rp. 300 thousand.
One of the government programs that are difficult to implement when analog TV is still available is the acceleration of the internet network.
The migration from analog TV to digital TV will indirectly open up opportunities for fast internet connections in Indonesia. This happens because the frequency that has been present in analog TV is 700 MHz, if it has been transferred to digital TV, it can be used to provide 5g networks.
Based on the information provided by the Spokesperson for the Communication and Information Technology, Dedy Permadi, the use of the 700 MHz frequency to deploy 5G services is based on the reason that the 700 MHz frequency band has the characteristics needed for internet distribution in rural areas (villages) or remote areas due to coverage. wide range.
Not only that, but the range of the 700 MHz frequency band can also be said to be suitable for improving indoor signal quality (inside buildings) in urban areas, especially in high-rise buildings.
The government has indeed prepared one of the three spectrum layers, namely the 700 MHz frequency band to be able to deploy 5G in Indonesia.
