PEMRA hires Swiss consultant for initiation of DTH licensing
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to hire M/s Digital Strategy Consulting Services, Switzerland for initiation of Direct to Home (DTH) licensing in Pakistan.
PEMRA in its advertisement issued in leading newspapers dated October 30, 2014 had solicited proposals from international consultant/firms/companies to hire a suitable consultant/company. As a result, 5 consultant firms had submitted their proposals till the closing date of December 1, 2014.
PEMRA committee formed to evaluate the proposals diligently evaluated the technical and financial bids in the light of PPRA Rules and recommended M/s Digital Strategy Consulting Services, Switzerland which was subsequently approved by the Authority in its 101st meeting held on January 16, 2015.
The selected international consultant/firm will assist PEMRA in preparing eligibility criteria, license template, bidding methodology, determination of base price, recommendation on number of licenses to be issued and the duration of licenses etc.
Direct to Home (DTH) service is a digital platform for distribution of TV channels from satellite directly to homes through small dish antennas across the footprint of the satellite without intermediaries. The facility first downlink prescribed channels from various satellites; combines them into a bouquet; uplinks to satellite and downlinks again for distribution to subscribers directly.
According to PEMRA, DTH service would be a major milestone in the broadcast arena. With the launching of DTH in Pakistan, the subscribers would have much more access to high quality TV channels embedded with digital features like parental control, electronic programme guide, internet and video on demand.
DTH service would help in easier regulatory control besides addressing the complaint of TV channels who are not finding adequate place on traditional analogue cable TV networks. Similarly this technology would facilitate viewers to watch large variety of un-interrupted channels in their homes.
The initiation of this digital medium would help in creating jobs for thousands of people besides injecting investment of billions of rupees in the country’s economy. As a result of DTH, PEMRA also foresees licensing of more local and foreign TV channels.
Launching of Pakistani DTH would also help in curbing the menace of illegal proliferation of DTH of neighbouring countries into Pakistan which is causing an approximate annual loss of $200 million to the national exchequer besides being a source of piracy in the country.
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