Efforts that have been made since 2005 by the Dominican Administration include different international workshops or forums, with the main aim of ascertaining progress made with digital television, the current situation of analog television, and implementation in the different countries of the region.

On June 26, 2009, an international meeting was held with the entire broadcasting sector and the President of the Dominican Republic to review the most recent progress made in the work of the study group in the radio and television area to evaluate and recommend the most suitable standard to the Dominican administration. Presented at the forum were the two standards that thus far the Administration considers those most suitable for the implementation of digital television in the Dominican Republic case. These standards are DVB-T and ATSC.

Implementation

The study group conducted several tests of DVB-T and ATSC. It has also considered different points of interest, such as:

A. International compilations of information on the functionalities of the standards best known internationally;

B. Study of the results of the reports that the different groups have suggested in their respective recommendations to Administrations;

C. Market analysis;

D. Feasibility study on the implementation or adoption of the new DIGITAL TV technologies;

E. Evaluation of equipment procurement facilities under regional agreements and in traditional markets;

F. Study of national and international legislation and regulations.

G. Study of user habits and statistical reports.

In early 2010, the Administration expects to announce the decision on the standard to be adopted.

To provide an idea of the current situation in the Region, we include below a map of the different standards adopted by administrations as of October 25, 2009.

Fuente: http://es.dtvstatus.net/#dtv

Translation:  Blue:  DVB-T adopted.  Countries that have opted for the DVB-T system.

Dark green:  ATSC.  Transmission using the ATSC system has now been implemented.

Light green:  ATSC being tested.  In these countries, the ATSC standard is in a trial period.

Dark pink:  ISDB-T adopted.  Countries that have opted for the ISDB-T system.

Light pink:  ISDB-T being tested.  In these countries, the ISDB-T standard is in a trial period.

Grey:  Countries that have not yet opted for a standard.

Fuente: http://es.dtvstatus.net/

Translation: Costa Rica: Commercial ATSC service

El Salvador: ATSC adopted

United States of America (including Alaska, Hawaii, the Midway Islands, and Wake Island): 2/17/09-6/12/09

Guatemala: Commercial ATSC service

Panama: DVB-T adopted

Dominican Republic: ATSC being tested. DVB-T being tested

Argentina: Commercial DVB-T service. SBTVD-T adopted

Chile: SBTVD-T adopted

Colombia: DVB-T adopted

Peru: SBTVD-T adopted

Uruguay: Commercial DVB-T service. DVB-T adopted

Venezuela: SBTVD-T adopted

To provide further information on the television and digital television industry, INDOTEL has created a blog: http://indotel-tvdigital.blogspot.com

Javier García
Senior Engineer Broadcasting Management
Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones