Ivan Richard
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Brazil does not plan to develop its own digital TV standard. Instead, it will adapt imported systems (European, American, and Japonese) to introduce the technology in Brazil. For the minister of Communication, Hélio Costa, developing a national standard would demand many years of research and large investments.

According to the minister, Brazil is putting together a "Brazilian system of digital TV." From his standpoint, "within this digital TV model we are assembling, we shall have imported components and items made in Brazil, and we shall have the capacity to update the system on a permanent basis."

Since the beginning of the year, 79 research institutions all around the country have been networking on the theme of implanting digital television, and, to be part of the process of defining the standard that will be used in Brazil, they have to present their conclusions to the National Research and Development Council (CPQD) by December.

Costa also affirmed that the digitalization of TV in Brazil will create jobs. "We are dealing with an extraordinary capacity to generate jobs, inasmuch as we realize that each television station will have more than one channel and thus generate more jobs."

The digital TV system is expected to be implemented in the country by 2006. The minister affirmed that the system may be operational in four capitals by July of next year. "We are initially considering Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte."

According to Costa, the stations will be obliged to invest heavily to adapt their systems to the new technology. "Each station will have to invest not only in the unit which generates the signal but also in all its land-based retransmission facilities."

The minister participated yesterday (27) in the Senate in a public hearing on the implantation of digital TV.

Translation: David Silberstein