Last month, Thailand revealed plans to roll-out digital radio in 2015 preceded by a year-long trial. Asia Radio Today spoke to Col. Natee Sukonrat, Vice-Chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to find out more.

1. Local media recently described how 4,000 licenses will be made available. Please can you tell us more about how this will work?

NBTC has set the year of 2014 for digital radio and is currently working on the technical aspect to determine how many licenses would be made as well as how to launch the multiplexes for the digital radio.

Definitely, Thailand’s digital radio will be provided on VHF bands (high frequency used for analog television transmission) and the number of the digital licenses should be enough to cover the existing radio broadcasters.

2. A year-long digital radio trial is due to begin soon. What more can you share about this?

NBTC, together with MCOT, the Public Relations Department (PRD), and the Royal Thai Army will conduct a year-long trial for digital radio in mid 2014. This technical and commercial trial will be designed to demonstrate the transmission in order to help Thai radio broadcasters to get the real experience of the new digital technology and understand how the new transmission system will improve delivery. Furthermore, the NBTC would like to take this trial as an opportunity to introduce the new technology of digital radio broadcasting to the Thai people.

3. Does this mean that you have settled on the DAB+ platform? Do you plan to roll-out other platforms like DRM in conjunction with DAB+ (say for medium wave)?

NBTC has not decided which digital radio standard will be selected. Considering the limitation of frequencies and the capacity of Thai broadcasters, DAB+ is one of our preferences. However, NBTC still keeps options open for other technologies.

4. Do you see a role for community radio under the digital radio plans? How will they afford to be on the platform?

There is a possibility for community radio to operate on the FM band. FM receivers are currently less expensive than digital receivers. Therefore, it is much easier for Thai people to access community radio. I think, in the future, community radio should be low power FM to minimise the transmission and operation cost.

5. For digital TV, the Thai government is subsidising the cost of the set top boxes. Is something similar planned for radio?

For digital Radio, NBTC is planning to subsidise the cost of radio receivers. However, the subsidy programme will not be exactly the same as the one for digital TV. It will be specifically designed for the radio.

6. How enthusiastic is the commercial radio sector in taking frequencies on the digital radio platform or is this being led by the public sector?

From commercial radio broadcaster’s side, they would likely see the potential of digital radio. NBTC, therefore, is organising the “trial” to demonstrate the real experience of transmission and to ensure the certainty of policy making in the digital radio. However, it is easier to make a transition to digital radio in the public sector. Simply, the analogue FM frequency is required to be returned and will later be allocated for public digital radio.