According to a news report published in Dawn, Islamabad on 24th Dec, 2019 Digital migration policy for PBC (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation) will be presented to Prime Minister next week. Information Secretary Zahida Parveen told a subcommittee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting.
The secretary said the digital migration policy would be implemented in PBC in three phases at the cost of Rs3.995 billion in six years.
1st Phase : estimated cost of Rs42 million, digital broadcast pilot project will be completed in one year
1 kW DRM/FM station - Islamabad
400 kW DRM/AM station - Peshawar
100 KW DRM/AM station - Dera Ismail Khan.
2nd Phase - to be completed in three years at the cost of Rs 3,153 million.
1000 KW DRM/AM station - Fort Monroe, Dera Ghazi Khan
5-10 kW DRM/FM stations - At 13 cities
3rd Phase - estimated cost of Rs800 million.
100 KW DRM/AM stations - Lahore, Skardu, Quetta and Peshawar
The committee was informed that the technology migration of Radio Pakistan from analogue to digital, would allow transmission of four channels on a single transmitter and crystal clear sound quality.
The transformation to digital will cut the operational costs of Radio Pakistan. The new technology was a necessity as the obsolete AM/FM held receivers were no more available in the market.
With the new digital technology, all locally assembled cars will be equipped with DRM receivers and the local assemblers and manufacturers will incorporate DRM capability in mobile phones.
(Source : Dawn/APP, 25 Dec 2019)
DRM = Digital Radio Mondiale