Confident that Maldives can switch to ISDB-T technology: Communication Minister

Minister of Transport and Communication has said that he is confident that Maldives can switch to the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting Terrestrial (ISDB-T), a Japanese technology for broadcasting digital television and digital radio.

Speaking at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport VIP lounge after attending the departure of the Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communication of Japan Yoshitaka Shindo last night, Transport and Communication Minister Ameen Ibrahim told the media that the possibilities of establishing countrywide broadcasting network by using ISDB-T technology had been a focused the discussions with his Japanese counterpart,

The Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting Terrestrial (ISDB-T) technology is a Japanese standard for digital television and digital radio used by the country's radio and television networks which replaced the previously used analogue TV system. The fairly recent technology eases possibilities to cover large area in terrestrial broadcasting.

Transport Minister Ameen noted last night that the technology is already being used by some broadcasters in the Maldives and that the purpose of this initiative is to standardize the broadcasting technology across the country.

“ISDB-T technology is one of the easiest forms (of broadcasting). We’ve discussed with Japan, to seek assistance in establishing ISDB-T. We discussed such matters as training people in technical areas,” the Minister said.

The Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo said that Japan celebrates this initiative by the Maldives to establish an ISBD-T crosscountry network and that the change can bring great progress to the Maldives.

ISBD-T is an intelligent technology he said, and that a lot more can be done through establishing such a network, such as providing early warnings and easing coordination efforts during natural disasters, and providing telemedical services to different parts of the country.

This recent official visit by Japanese Minister Yoshitaka Shindo was in answer to an invitation extended by Minister Ameen Ibrahim. During his visit, Minister Yoshitaka Shindo visited the country’s public service broadcaster MBC where he took a tour of the site.

Maldives first initiated discussions with Japan to establish the ISBD-T technology in 2011 and the former Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) had switched their broadcasting to ISBD-T technology within the year.

Although widely used in the Latin America, Maldives is the second country in Asia to employ the ISBD-T technology.