Taiwan going digital by 2013
December 16, 2010
Taiwan’s long awaited leap into the age of digital broadcasting is set to take place by 2013 courtesy of a proposed NT$740 million (US$24 million) government investment in set-top boxes and transmitters.
“This initiative is part of next year’s central administration’s budget and is under review by the Legislature,” said Chen Cheng-tsang, spokesman for the National Communications Commission.
The migration to digital TV will see NT$260 million spent on subsidising set-top boxes for 103,000 low-income households. This is expected to begin by the second half of next year at the earliest, the NCC said.
Expanding the country’s digital broadcasting network is also an NCC priority. The commission built seven new transmitters this year for NT$55.2 million, with a further 40 at NT$414 million planned by 2012. Once construction is finished, Taiwan will have 71 transmitters delivering a coverage rate of over 95 per cent.