Member of Commission I DPR RI Junico BP Sihaan admits that he is pessimistic that the implementation of the Analog Switch Off (ASO) Program can reach the target in November 2022. Because the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) and Private Broadcasting Institutions (LPS), or multiplexing organizers in the implementation mechanism have not yet seen optimally, and also communication between related parties has not been going well. So that the ASO program in the field has not been implemented properly.
This was stated by Nico after attending a meeting of the Special Working Visit Team of the Broadcasting Digitization Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission I led by the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission I Meutya Viada Hafid, with the Acting Director General of Post and Information Technology (Ditjen PPI) Kominfo Ismail, the multiplexing organizers , Yogyakarta Broadcasting TV, Digital TV Community and Chairman of the Indonesian Electronic Entrepreneurs Association, in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Saturday (May 21, 2022).
“Although basically there has been a commitment between Kominfo and private television stations for the distribution of the number of Set Top Boxes (STB), in reality on the ground it is not easy. The problems that occur are related to the distribution of STB, and the implementation mechanism is still lacking. All of this happened because there was a very large additional cost that had to be spent not only for distribution, but there was an additional budget for installation that needed to be spent. For this reason, I encourage the relevant parties to sit down together to solve the current problems,” Nico pleaded.
The PDI-Perjuangan politician reminded that multiplexing or private television organizers should immediately complete their commitments in carrying out the ASO program. Whatever the problem, there must be a solution given so that the program from ASO can be carried out properly, in order to realize the digitalization of quality national broadcasting.
“I and the members of Commission I will invite related parties, namely the Communications and Information Technology and the Directors of Private Television to have a sitting meeting to discuss what are the current obstacles and obstacles. It is hoped that in the future there will be good communication and the existing problems can be resolved. As is the case at this time, the distribution of STB is still stagnating, and it becomes a question, whether it is a budget issue or a problem with data verification and validation who are entitled to receive free STB, all of which must have a solution given. Do not let the mandate of the Job Creation Act, where the target of ASO itself is November 2022, cannot be carried out because the program is an indicator, “said Nico.
On the same occasion, the Acting Director General of PPI Kominfo Ismail ensured that the migration of analog television to digital or ASO went well and sustainably in accordance with the planned timeframe, which became the focus of Kominfo. He emphasized the need for the support of the role of all parties for the success of accelerating the implementation of ASO, starting from the process of preparing the multiplexing infrastructure, broadcast programs, ecosystem of broadcast receivers and outreach to education to the public.
“I hope that the community will actively contribute to the acceleration of digital television migration by buying Set Top Boxes (STB) and installing them on their respective televisions, especially for people who have the ability. It is hoped that people who have the ability to proactively buy STB, because what is distributed is only for the poor based on the reference to the Integrated Social Welfare Data or DTKS,” Ismail reported to the Committee I of the House of Representatives Commission I Kunspek Team.
Ismail continued, that there are 6.3 million people who are classified as poor who will be given subsidies for free STB equipment, provided they have analog TVs, so there is no need to replace new televisions. And in early 2022, the government has prepared one million units of STB for distribution, while multiplexing operators are committed to providing 4,177,760 units.
It is known, the number of STB distributed is also limited. Currently, the maximum number of STBs provided for poor households based on DTKS in Central Java is 1,142,925, while in Yogyakarta it is 120,686 STB.
