The Regulator of the Office of the Regulator Unutoa Fonoti has highlighted the need for proper training of television and radio engineers to prepare for Samoa’s transition from analog to digital television.
Fonoti says the push is to ensure television engineers are in tune with the change come late 2017.
“The most important thing is that this technology is obviously new for them and we know the many changes coming in which is why it is important that they be trained in these new areas,” she said.
“These are new skills taught on how to handle new technology, much different from that of the ones they have always operated with in the past and trained for,” she added.
Fonoti says it’s going to need an entire overhaul of the engineers working within televisions due to the digitizing of television, especially with new knowledge, ideas and methods to be adopted from experts.
“For us it’s the first time to try digital television, but we’re not the only ones who have been at this crucial stage of switching from analog to digital. There are many other countries who have gone through this process and have run into some difficulties. So it’s good to prepare our engineers now in order to avoid as many of those as possible,” she added.
The Regulators Office is also educating the public about the transition.
“We have visited the communities and villages, and explaining to them the big change come the end of 2017, and many of them have accepted it and seemed to agree with the switch,” said Fonoti.
So now watching rugby does not have to be on a bad reception through your antenna. Fonoti as assured that with digitizing TV, even families who have not received any signal at all will be watching crystal clear television from home.
In order for that to become a reality, the Regulator says all proper measures must be taken to ensure every player plays their key roles in making the switch work.