Final evaluation for the three shortlisted for digital terrestrial TV

• i-Media Broadcasting Solutions, Puncak Semangat and Redtone Network Sdn Bhd meet deadline
• First rollout of DTTB services expected Q1 2014, full nationwide coverage targeted end-2015

THE three shortlisted bidders for the Digital Terrestrial TV Broadcasting (DTTB) infrastructure build have submitted their proposed business plans for a final round of evaluation by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
 
The three i-Media Broadcasting Solutions Sdn Bhd, Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd and Redtone Network Sdn Bhd, the MCMC said in a statement.
 
The deadline for submissions was at 12 noon on June 3. The results of the evaluation process will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2013, the industry regulator said.
 
In accordance with the conditions set out in the AIP (Applicant Information Package No 1 of 2012 issued on April 23, 2012), the shortlisted bidders were given six months to complete detailed proposed business plans.
 
These included detailed frequency assessment across the country, taking measurements at the transmission sites, set-top box proposals (including detailed execution modalities) and to firm up their financial capability to build, operate and maintain the DTTB infrastructure.
 
This infrastructure will provide the necessary platform for Free-to-Air (FTA) broadcasters to migrate from the current analogue system to a digital broadcasting format. It will also eventually allow for more broadcasters to come on stream to provide more channels over and above those currently available, the MCMC said.
 
The three were shortlisted after MCMC completed first round evaluations on the business plan submissions of eight companies.
 
The first rollout of DTTB services to the public is expected to be in the later part of quarter one of 2014, while full nationwide coverage is targeted to be by the end of 2015.

 
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