In relation with the start of digitalization in the Republic of Bulgaria the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) organized on 30.09.2013 a round table with all stakeholders. Representatives of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, the Council for Electronic Media, the multiplex operators, radio and television operators, the Bulgarian association of the cable communications operators and the Association of Bulgarian broadcasters took part in the forum.

 

The participants at the meeting agreed on the conclusion that despite the difficulties around the process, the digitalization of terrestrial television in Bulgaria is a success, all the envisaged technical parameters are achieved, the obligations and the requirements of the Law and the Plan on the digitalization are fulfilled.

 

The main points stressed at the meeting were related with the coverage of the digital television signal, the weaknesses of the information campaign, the lack of radio frequency resource for rolling out the networks of the multiplex operators during the second phase, the inefficient use of the capacity of the multiplexes, the problems of the operators of Pay TV under the conditions of digitalization and provision of necessary resources for the process.

 

It was reported during the discussion that because of budget cuts in the Bulgarian National Television for 2014 it shall not be able to deliver new programs and this shall result in ceasing the development of the public multiplex. Concerning the television content, provided by the multiplex operators, attention has been drawn to the unwillingness of the television operators to provide diversified programs for digital free-to-air transmission, which creates the threat not to use effectively the resource and to discredit in such a way the process of digitalization.

 

The need was stressed the state to undertake measures to motivate the multiplex operators to achieve the maximum coverage of the signal according to population or for provision of alternative ways for receiving the television signal by the socially weak consumers, which are situated outside the coverage zone.

 

The conclusions and suggestions made after the discussion shall be rendered systematic and presented to the executive power, in order measures and legislative initiatives to be undertaken aiming at solving the established problems facing the process of digitalization in Bulgaria.