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Broadcasting Infrastructure in the Republic of Serbia - Call for Action upon PP-10 Res. 126 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010)

Reliable public broadcasting and telecommunication systems are indispensable for promoting the socio-economic development of countries. Overcoming the past turbulent passage, Serbia has envisioned such path to development by rebuilding its public broadcasting system, and further developing its broadcasting infrastructure, and the overall ICT environment.
ITU has supported Serbia's efforts with the updated ITU Resolution 126 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) at the ITU Plenipotentiary conference 2010 in Guadalajara.

This page strives to capture Serbia's achievements in developing its broadcasting infrastructure, ways of partnering with global communicaty, and what action is required in the future.

ITU Assistance to Rebuilding the Broadcasting Infrastructure in Serbia

ITU’s key role in rebuilding Serbia’s telecommunication sector has been widely recognized. In accordance with Resolution 126 of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in 2010, “Assistance and support to Serbia for rebuilding its destroyed public broadcasting system”, and Resolution 33 (Rev. Doha, WTDC‑06), BDT’s experts visited Serbia in 2011 to assess the assistance and support to be given to the country. After collecting information on the status of Serbia’s broadcasting networks and the requirements for further development, ITU proposed guidelines for future assistance.

BDT has already assisted Serbia by providing ETV with a field survey vehicle (a car equipped with an antenna mast and monitoring receiver, television receiver and set-top box, and a global positioning system). In addition, based on the information collected during the expert mission and after a review meeting held in Geneva in early 2012 during the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC‑12), ITU has prepared a project document in order to mobilize funds for the full implementation of Resolution 126.

In 2011, public enterprise Emisiona Tehnika i Veze (JP ETV) built a network of 13 TV transmitters and two TV repeaters operating on the same frequency as the parent transmitter (gap filler), meeting the deadline for the start of digital broadcasting in Serbia. Coordinated by Serbia’s Digital Agenda Authority, most of the equipment for this phase was acquired thanks to funds allocated by the European Union under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.

Looking ahead, it is clear that the assistance of the international community is indispensable in rebuilding the Serbian national broadcasting system. Serbia presented its overall achievements and plans for the road ahead at the 17th meeting of the ITU Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG), held in Geneva from 27 to 29 June 2012.

JP ETV has prepared a project proposal with updated requirements, including cost estimates for BDT’s consideration and further action. The proposal is made taking into account obligations from the Final Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference, held in Geneva in 2006 (RRC‑06); all equipment donated by the European Union through its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, as well as investments and activities undertaken by the government and JP ETV.

Serbia has submitted a document requesting the ITU Council 2012 session (Geneva, 4–13 July) to consider allocating the necessary funds, within available resources, to help continue rebuilding its destroyed public broadcasting system successfullY.

Required Action

Taking into account relevant “resolves” of the Resolution 126 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010), agreed process of realization and plan for future activities, it is clear that additional action is still required.

JP ETV, in collaboration with ITU, has prepared a project proposal with updated requirements and provided relevant cost estimation. It will be submitted to BDT for consideration and further actions. The proposal is done taking into account:

- Obligations from the Final Acts RRC-06;

- All equipment donated by EU through its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA);

- Investments and activities performed by the Ministry and JP ETV;

Key Documents
Relevant Links

Resolution 33 (Rev. Doha, 2006).doc

Final Acts PP 2010, Guadalajara, Mexico.pdf

TDAG 2012 Report of the Republic of Serbia (ETV) on the activities related to Resolution 126 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010).docx

Strategy for Switchover from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting of Radio and Television Programs in the Republic of Serbia.pdf

EU Assistance to the digital broadcasting switchover in Serbia - IPA Project Fiche.pdf

Ministry of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications

Republic Agency for Electronic Communications RATEL

Public Enterprise Broadcasting Equipment and Communications ETV

Directorate for Digital Agenda

EU Support to Digitalization in Serbia

Independently from the Res. 126 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010), in the late 2008, the former MTIS, applied, and was awarded with the project for financing the equipment for multiplexing and distribution of digital terrestrial TV signal, as well as some measurement equipment, from the pre-accession funds (IPA). As the result of a successfully implemented tendering procedure, the equipment was procured from the best tenders. The consulting services for the implementation of the digitalization process are financed from the same funds. The European Union dedicated 10,5 million Euros of grant funds in total, for financing of this project.

MCIIS submitted to the BDT/ITU relevant information on the EU funded project, in order to avoid duplication/overlapping of the assistance.

One part of the equipment, financed from the IPA funds, was used for the needs of the TV Initial network. The Initial network will be a constituent part of the final network, after the completion of transfer of television program to the digital terrestrial emission. As a result of the EU Assistance, and the cooperation between MCIIS and JP ETV, the emission of digital terrestrial TV signal in DVB-T2 standard in Serbia began on March 21, 2012. This date is one of the very important milestones in the history of the broadcasting in Serbia.

Digitalization in Serbia

In March 2012 the national switchover strategy was amended. Due to non-availability of sufficient radio frequency spectrum for simulcasting, the approach to digital switchover needed to be modified.

The previously determined ASO date (April 4, 2012) was postponed to no later than June 17, 2015. It was also decided that the process of digital switchover will be conducted in phases (“digital islands” principle).

In June 2012, the regulation of switchover from analogue to digital television broadcasting and multiplex access in digital terrestrial broadcasting was adopted. The act determined requirements for switchover from analogue to digital television broadcasting in each of the regions and the rights and obligations of broadcasters in the process of switchover to digital broadcasting.

In October 2012 the Government of Republic of Serbia adopted the Plan on determining the allocation of radio-frequency spectrum, which takes into consideration the ongoing process of the terrestrial broadcasting digitalization.

A DVB-T2 trial has been on air since March 2012 and is now reaching coverage of 40% of the population. There are 10 television channels in SD (RTS 1, RTS 2, RTS Digital, RTV 1, RTV 2, Pink, B92, Prva, Happy, and Studio B) and one in HD (RTS HD) available on the initial trial network.