Radio Taiwan International hosts Digital Broadcasting Symposium
The 2003 Taipei Digital Broadcasting Seminar took place at Radio Taiwan International’s Taipei headquarters from September 29th to October 1st. A seven-point final statement reached after a hot debate at the end of the symposium urges the government to initiate the roadmap for speeding up the development of digital broadcasting in Taiwan, to modify the broadcasting regulations and to bring up investment-incentive policies that would be helpful for the success of the industry.
More than 200 delegates attended the event, including local broadcasters, manufacturers, service providers, academics, government regulators and those who are interested in the developments and challenges of digital broadcasting industry.
RTI Chairman Lin Feng-jen said at the opening ceremony, “Radio Taiwan International attempts to be the pioneer of digital broadcasting in Taiwan and shall made all efforts to help integrate related sectors to facilitate the process leads to digital life.” Minister without portfolio of Executive Yuan Dr. Tsay Ching-yen and Minister of Government Information Office Mr. Huang Hwei-chen both gave confidence-boost speeches and proclaimed the importance of pushing digital broadcasting forward to match the 2008 Challenge National Development Plan, a project proposed by the Executive Yuan in May 2002 to improve living standards and the business and investment climate in Taiwan over a six-year course.
Mr. Josef Troxler of Thales B&M AG, Mr. Peter Gordon of AIB Member VT Merlin Communications and Mr. Johannes Noack of TELEFUNKEN introduced DRM and talked about challenges it will face. Peter Gordon also offered a Q&A session. Mr. Bernhard Baurngartner of Hirschmann Solutions, Mr. Hartmut Schaefer, Mr. Stefan Berger of ROHDE & SCHWARZ and Prof. The-nan Chang of TATUNG University talked about DAB and related issues. Mr. Donald Spragg and Mr. Steven J. Spradlin of Harris gave a review and comparison of three terrestrial digital radio systems. Mr. Jack Chang of PC-Radio Corp. talked about the media streaming platform solution. Mr. Jia-huei Wu, Deputy Director General of The Directorate General of Telecommunications talked about digital broadcasting regulations and said “The government will be glad to see the public radios to get more involved in digital broadcasting.” Dr. Johnson Hun of Chief Secretary of Digital Audio Broadcasting Committee Taiwan talked about the status of digital broadcasting in Taiwan. Dr. Hun said, “The idea is to make Taiwan the center of digital broadcasting manufacturing industry.”
ROHDE & SCHWARZ used its MA6050 500W DAB transmitter shipped to Taipei earlier to transmit at half power to live demonstrate DAB Data transmission at the symposium. Mr. Peter Gordon displayed a DRM software receiver and the Coding Technologies production-ready world band DRM radio. Taiwan-based GyroSignal Technology showcased its newest Gyro-1114 DAB/FM/RDS Receiver Module, and live demonstrate two types of Gyro loaded DAB radios and a DAB LED display panel. PC-Radio Corp. demonstrated its DAB IP tunneling system D-IPTUS, which is the solution to broadcast streaming services and r-commerce applications on DAB through a live transmission of a MPEG-4 video from a Hirschmann 100 mw transmitter exciter at the symposium. Minton Optic Industry displayed its Audio Avanti 5.1 DAB home theatre system with surround audio effects and Elansat displayed its pocket DAB/FM receiver.
RTI, one of the leading broadcasters of Taiwan’s island-wide DAB test launch in 2000, tries to get together at the symposium the people who know the digital broadcasting well to press greater involvement from all sectors in Taiwan so as to bring the exciting digital life to more people. The DAB signal now covers almost all the populated area of Taiwan. The digital broadcasting related regulations are to be scrutinized by the Legislative Yuan by end of 2003. Taiwan’s inaugural launch of DAB is expected to happen by early 2004.