Brazil decides on a Digital Terrestrial TV system

President Luiz Inaciao Lula da Silva signed a decree finally affirming the DTT system for Brazil on Thursday 29th June 2006. The decree names the Japanese ISDB-T system as the basis for the new Brazilian standard called Sistema Brasileiro de Televisao Digital Terrestre (SBTD-T).
Whilst the ISDB-T standard forms the basis for SBTD-T the final system will be adapted for the special requirements of Brazil and will be based on the new MPEG-4, H.264 AVC compression standard and Brazilian Middleware.
The system, like ISDB-T, is also capable of transmitting several low bit rate video programmes to mobile handheld devices whilst at the same time delivering better definition to fixed receivers. The requirement to be able to deliver programmes to mobile devices without having to deal with Telco’s was especially attractive to existing broadcasters. However it is likely in the long run that a more comprehensive mobile standard like DVB-H or MediaFLO will be used to provide users with 30 or more programmes instead of the few available using the ISDB-T single segment system.
In order to reach an agreement, Japan offered Brazil exemption from some of the royalty payments due for the application of its technology as well as the possibility of building a new semiconductor factory. In addition the transition from the existing TV standard PAL-M to SBTD-T will be financed by the Japanese JBIC and the Brazilian development bank BNDES.Brazil will take ten years for the transition to be completed through-out the whole country and it is likely that the first products for the reception of the new Brazilian standard will appear in 12 months time.Brazil is the first country to use the ISDB-T system outside Japan and it expects to work together with Japan on developing and improving the system to better meet its specific requirements.Sources, many including: Tiscali technology, Agencia EFE S.A., Prensa.com, eluniversal.com, Dow Jones, AFP.
Item added: 2nd July 2006