Globe unit gears up for digital TV

MANILA, Philippines - Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media (BEAM) Inc., a unit of Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc., continues to gear up for the Philippines’ shift from analog to digital television as mandated by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

BEAM president Steve Macion said the company is upgrading its infrastructure and facilities through the purchase of new Digital Terrestrial Television-ready transmitters.

“We are committed to the national government’s digital television program as we continue to strengthen our DTT network and capabilities. We are upgrading our DTT-ready headend and transmitter facilities in Cebu and Davao, and similar upgrades will be done for our Naga, Iloilo, Baguio and Zamboanga broadcast stations by 2015,” Macion said.

In addition, Macion said BEAM is also in the process of replacing its main 60 kW analog transmitter in Antipolo with a new, best-in-class DTT-ready transmitter that is expected to be ready for service by the end of this year.

Macion said these are part of the overall effort to build a commercial-grade broadcast network using the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard.

NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba earlier said the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the adoption of the ISDB-T standard starting 2015 would be issued within the second half of the year.

Cordoba said the agency together with government agencies including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as well as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) are finalizing the guidelines in consultation with various industry stakeholders.

He added that the agency is coordinating with members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP), broadcasting companies, cable TV providers, appliance dealers, among others.

“We don’t want to rush the IRR so nobody would be left out. Let us make sure that everything is in order and everyone is in agreement,” he said.