The Digital Switchover – Necessity or Opportunity ?

Panelists:

”The National Switchover Strategy”

Marius Fecioru, Secretary of State, Ministry for Communications and Information Society, MCSI

”Landmarks of the Digital Switchover”

Catalin Marinescu, President, National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications, ANCOM

”How Can the TV Programme Consumers Benefit Most from the Digital Switchover?”

Ioan Onisei, Vice-President of the National Audiovisual Council of Romania , CNA

Hosted by:

Varujan Pambuccian, IT&C Committee, Chamber of Deputies

Content highlights and key-notes for speakers

Romania’s commitments as a member state of the European Union and the high interest in increasing consumer satisfaction triggered the obligation of switching from the analogue television services in the UHF band to the digital ones, by 1 January 2012. This process involves technical changes in view of harmonizing the use of the radio spectrum both on the regional level and on the EU level and will give rise to the need for new regulations. Why is European and regional coordination important?

-          History, advantages, current stage

-          Regulatory challenges – licenses, allotment etc.

-          The social and economic relevance of the digital switchover

-          What is the switchover deadline in Romania ? Which procedure has been chosen?

-          What hurdles could appear on the road from analogue to digital?

-          Lessons learnt from the analogue television era

-          The digital dividend – opportunities for the development of broadband

Speakers are invited to approach these subjects in their contributions, with emphasis on the questions listed above or on other relevant aspects.

Is the Romanian broadcasting market ready for the digital switchover?

Case studies:

”Case study: Austria ”

Michael Wagenhofer, Managing Director, Austrian Broadcasting Services, ORS, Austria

Participants:

-    Anca Budinschi, President, Romanian Audiovisual Communications Association, ARCA

-    Mihai Constantin, President, Digital Communications Association, ACD

-    Horia Cazan, Technical Director, Romanian Television Company, TVR

-    Alin Petran, Technical Director, Realitatea TV

-    Laurentiu Stan, Technical Director, Antena 1

-    Eugen Ionita, PRO TV

-    Romeo Froicu, Technical Director, Prima TV

-    Marian Ionita, Unit Manager, Management for Strategy, Development and Operations, National Radiocommunications Company, SNR

-     Radu Petric, President, Cable Communications Association, ACC

-     Mihai Ursoi, SES Sirius Romania

Hosted by:

Bogdan Iana, Executive Director, Executive Division for Radio Spectrum and Numbering Administration, ANCOM

Content highlights and key-notes for speakers

Following the transition from the analogue to the digital terrestrial television, the operators will be able to boost their offers and provide a set of innovative services, in accordance with the audience’s requests, in terms of image quality, fixed or mobile reception ubiquity, and vertical and horizontal interactivity on a local, regional and national level. The digital television market is still an unexplored territory. There are more than 260 TV stations in Romania (most of the rural users receiving exclusively analogue television), which indicates high interest in television-related businesses.

-          Are the Romanian companies ready?

-          What are the expectations of the broadcasters from the multiplex operators?

-          What are their expectations from the authorities?

-          What additional services will be brought in?

-          What are the forecasted costs?

Speakers are invited to approach these subjects in their contributions, with emphasis on the questions listed above or on other relevant aspects.

Solutions for broadband wireless communications

Participants:

-          Ericsson Telecommunications Romania

-          Nokia Siemens Networks Romania

-          Huawei Romania

-          Alvarion Romania

Hosted by:

Mihail Rotenberg

Content highlights and key-notes for speakers

As we all know, broadband communications may be the solution for many of the current connectivity and inclusion problems. Governments, operators and citizens are most interested in all aspects related to BWA, may these be of technical, social or regulatory nature. The most interesting of the successful solutions seems to be the use of mobile wireless communications, which provide access to remote or isolated areas while ensuring high quality services.

-          What are the most interesting technological developments in this segment –presentations of equipment and solutions

-          What are the challenges and benefits for Europe and for the rest of the world?

-          While the benefits for remote areas are unquestionable, what would be the impact on urban areas?

-          Could Europe benefit from the American experience?

-          Costs involved in building wireless systems

Speakers are invited to approach these subjects in their contributions, with emphasis on the questions enlisted above or on other relevant aspects.

Are the Romanian Viewers HD-ready?

Participants - manufacturers of TV receivers and transmitters:

-          Eduard Tronaru, System Sales Representative, Panasonic Romania

-          Raul Filip, AV Manager, Samsung Electronics Romania

-          Catalin Niculescu, General Manager, Rohde & Schwarz Romania

-         Gheorghe Minea, President, Digital Cable Systems

Hosted by:

Mihai Constantin, journalist, President of the Digital Communications Association

Content highlights and key-notes for speakers

The advantages of digital television are well known: additional number of programmes, supplementary modes of reception, high image and sound quality, including HDTV, new types of services - interactivity, programme electronic guides etc. The technological challenges are numerous: the analogue transmitters must be replaced with digital equipment, frequencies need to be refarmed and allocated for more transmitters, aspects related to coverage are different and so are switchover dates in different countries, spectrum sharing with the analogue television might be necessary, if only for a limited period, and analogue services still operating during this time need to be protected. As for the consumers, they must purchase new receivers and adapt their reception antennas, whereas the older persons could face problems of accepting and understanding the new technologies.

-          Technological innovation in the digital era

-          The importance of informing the users, in the context of the digital switchover – presentation of equipment

-          Regulations that could encourage the technology development and the use of the new services

-          Which segment of the existing TV sets in Romania is ready for digital reception?

-          What would be the new technologies and services with the biggest chance to succeed? Why?

-          Implemented technologies – success stories

Speakers are invited to approach these subjects in their contributions, with emphasis on the questions enlisted above or on other relevant aspects.

What changes and new elements does the reviewed Community legislation bring to the Universal Service?

Panelists:

“Review of the National Strategy for Universal Service”

Marius Fecioru, Secretary of State, Ministry of Communications and Information Society, MCSI

“The Telecentre Project Ends - We Are Now Ready for the Next Phase”

Bogdan Dospinescu, Tariff Regulation and Universal Service, ANCOM

“What Expectations Does the Romanian Local Administration Have from the Universal Service Implementation?”

Representative Communes Association

“Universal Service: Directory Enquiry Services and Related Data Protection Issues”

Silvia Axinescu and Anca Melinte, Associate Lawyers, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen

“Universal Service: Technology for everybody”

Irinel Burloiu, Business Development Manager, Intel Romania

Hosted by:

Catalin Marinescu, President, ANCOM

Content highlights and key-notes for speakers

The right to Universal Service ensures access to communications services to all the citizens of the European Union, at a certain quality level, irrespective of the geographic location, considering the specific conditions and at affordable tariffs. However, the effective implementation of Universal Service rises concrete, complex problems in our country, as well as all over the world. Moreover, the benefits of bringing modern communications into remote areas are unquestionable.

-          What experience have Member States accumulated so far?

-          How does the new regulatory framework for electronic communications approach the Universal Service issue?

-          Benefits of implementing the Universal Service in rural or remote areas

-          The Telecentre project ended – what conclusions can be drawn?

-          Analysis, review, implementation, evaluation – a complete cycle

-          How can we best inform the users on the availability of the access to communications services facilitated by the Universal Service implementation solutions?

Speakers are invited to approach these subjects in their contributions, with emphasis on the questions enlisted above or on other relevant aspects.

How do the electronic communications providers approach the Universal Service issue?

Keynote presentations

“Access to communications on isolated areas”

Dorin Odiatiu, Marketing Director, Orange Romania

“The implementation of the Universal Service in Romania”

Mihail Tarniceanu, Director Regulatory Affairs, Vodafone Romania

Participants:

-          Razvan Ionescu, Regulations Director, Romtelecom

-          Dorin Odiatiu, Marketing Director, Orange Romania

-          Mihail Tarniceanu, Director Regulatory Affairs, Vodafone Romania

-          Adrian Ciprian Ionescu, Regulatory Manager, Cosmote Romanian

Hosted by:

Bogdan Dospinescu, Tariff Regulation and Universal Service, ANCOM

Content highlights and key-notes for speakers

-          What do the providers expect from the relevant reviewed legislation and from the regulatory authority?

-          What conclusions can be drawn after a few years of Universal Service implementation in Romania , with its particularities?

-          What are the plans of the operators in the Romanian market as regards the coverage of as many localities as possible with services within the scope of Universal Service?

-          What state-of-the-art technologies would be most suitable? Why?

-          Universal Service financing

-          New technologies to support the connection of remote or isolated areas

Speakers are invited to approach these subjects in their contributions, with emphasis on the questions enlisted above or on other relevant aspects.