The government through the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) is preparing to turn off analog TV broadcasts or Analog Switch Off (ASO), which is planned to start next year. Before ASO starts, the government will distribute free set top boxes (STB) to people who are deemed to meet the criteria. For information, STB is a tool that can convert digital signals into images and sounds that can be displayed on ordinary Analog TVs. Henri Subiakto, Expert Staff to the Minister of Communication and Information for Legal Affairs, said that the government plans to distribute free STB to the public through two mechanisms. The first mechanism is the distribution carried out by the Multipeksing Organizer, which consists of LPP (Public Broadcasting Institution/TVRI), Private Broadcasting Institution (LPS), Local Broadcasting Institution (LPK), and Community Broadcasting Institution (LPK).
Distribution will be centered somewhere in the village or kelurahan. Later, STB will be given door to door, depending on the location of the beneficiary’s family.
Then the second mechanism, the distribution of STB is done through the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. The procurement of STB is sourced from the 2022 State Budget (APBN). The government plans to cooperate with logistics providers, such as PT. Pos Indonesia or others as the executor of distribution. “Regarding the distribution, Kominfo will carry out supervision to ensure the STB received by the public can operate properly,” explained Henri via text message to KompasTekno, Thursday (2/12/2021). Meanwhile, for STB originating from the Multipeksing Operator, the distribution operator will be left entirely to the institution.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics is only tasked with providing data on poor families who are the targets of the STB subsidy. “The task of the government (Kominfo) is to provide data on targeted poor families and implementation instructions (covering) criteria, validation and distribution implementation report documents, etc.,” added Henri.
When are free STBs distributed?
Henri did not reveal an exact date when the free STBs would be distributed. He only said that for STB originating from the APBN, it would begin to be distributed around February or March 2022. If according to the plan, then the distribution of free STB was carried out one or two months before ASO Phase I began to take effect. As for Phase I of ASO, it will be held on April 30, 2022. Meanwhile, for free STB from multiplexing providers, Henri only said that it will be distributed before the ASO stage in each region. “For STB from Private TV or LPS winning multiplexing, they will be ready as soon as possible. What is clear is that before ASO, each region has been divided,” explained Henri.
The need for digital IT is needed in daily activities, Bead IT Consultant is the right choice as your partner, visit our website by clicking this link: www.beadgroup.com