Croatia

[HR] Introduction of DVB-T

IRIS 2007-4:1/22

Nives Zvonarić

Ministry of Culture, Zagreb, Croatia

For the purpose of implementing DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial) in the Republic of Croatia, two working groups have been established.

One is the “Working Group for the Preparation of the Implementation and Application of the DVB Technology and Services in the Republic of Croatia”, which was established by the Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development and whose primary task is to prepare and propose the relevant documents to the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

The second is the “DVB-T Forum”, established by the Croatian Telecommunication Agency and which is composed of experts from various relevant sectors. On the basis of their professional experience, knowledge and organisational skills, they advise the responsible institutions and bodies on the requirements and possibilities that the DVB services may present for the broadcasting market of the Republic of Croatia. The Forum's task is to propose a National Strategy for the Transition from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting, a final date for the complete switch-off of the terrestrial analogue television broadcasting, as well as an appropriate regulatory framework for the impending use of DVB.

The national strategy on the digital switch-over is currently being prepared with respect to the following guidelines and requirements for establishment:

- the dynamics of the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and the date of the final switch-off of the analogue broadcasting;

- the plan and mode for the switch-off of the analogue broadcasting networks;

- the designation of all agents necessary for the transition;

- the means and methods for the acquisition of various types of Set-Top-Boxes;

- the specification of the spectrum allocated for DVB-H and DVB-T (HDTV) in the sense of the optimal use of frequencies as well as regards the future number of licensed operators;

- the protection of television rights, copyrights and other related rights in the context of television and new technologies (IPTV);

- the proposal of amendments to the relevant laws and subordinate legislation significant for the implementation of the strategy;

- the compilation of an overview of all services, which can be provided via digital television;

- the definition of a method for separating the regulation of content from the regulation of transmission;

- the decision on the methods as to how to communicate the State’s Strategy to the public;

- the specification of measures, schedules and agents of the Strategy.

Already, during the last two years, the Croatian Telecommunications Agency has been working on the project in the sense of securing the frequency resources and following the development of the technology. The National Frequency Plan for Digital Television has been developed and harmonised with neighbouring countries. Croatia’s goal is to comply with the schedule of the EU and complete the transition to digital broadcasting technology by 2012.