Johnny G. Plate Finally Delays ASO Until Next Year, You Can Still Watch Analog TV

JAKARTA - The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate, stated that the termination of analog terrestrial television broadcasts or analog switch off (ASO) will be postponed until next year.

"Initially, the first stage was on August 17, but due to the pandemic, it will be carried out in three stages. Starting April 31, 2022," said Minister of Communications and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, during a virtual press conference, Tuesday, August 10.

The migration of terrestrial television broadcasts from analog to digital is regulated in Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation, that ASO is no later than two years after the regulation takes effect, or November 2, 2022.

Considering the wide area and complexity of broadcasting, Kominfo decided to gradually switch the analog off.

In the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Number 6 of 2021, it is stated that ASO will be carried out in five stages. The first phase lasts until 17 August 2021 at the latest.

In the initial plan, based on the Ministerial Regulation, phase II of ASO will take place no later than December 31, phase II until March 31, 2022, phase IV until August 17, 2022 and finally November 2, 2022.

After seeing the development of the corona virus pandemic, Kominfo changed the analog switch off into three stages.

Phase two will last until the end of August 2022 and phase three in early November 2022. "Hopefully the legal umbrella will be issued soon, this week. Before August 17," said Johnny G. Plate.

The migration of terrestrial television broadcasts from analog to digital is important because it has been delayed for a very long time and to support the availability of fast internet in Indonesia.

The migration of terrestrial television broadcasts from analog to digital will provide efficiency in the 700MHz radio frequency spectrum, the mainstay frequency for cellular services.

After the migration, said Minister of Communications and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, there will be a digital dividend of 112MHz which will be used for providing fast internet and disaster frequency, notifications on communication devices in the event of a natural disaster.