Brazil television to transition from analog to digital

Global Business

Countries around the world are switching out their old analog television signals for digital technology and the improved quality and services that brings. Brazil is joining the move.

CGTN’s Paulo Cabral reports.

Digital TV is spreading across Brazil, and it has to because the analog signal is being gradually switched off all over the country. On March 29, it will be Sao Paulo’s turn.

Brazil is switching off the analog TV signal to free up frequencies for high speed mobile internet. In the greater Sao Paulo area the switch off will affect 22 million people.

To be allowed to use the analog TV frequency for their internet operations, Brazil’s biggest cell phone companies had to commit to giving away free digital TV-converters to low income Brazilians, who are less likely to have access to pay TV and often rely on free-to-air channels to watch television.

A company created do that job is Seja Digital. It not only gives low-income residents the needed equipment, but also follows up with instructions on how to install it and use the new resources that come with the new technology.

The digital switchover is expected to be complete for all of Brazil by the end of 2018. The challenge now, in this rush to widen access to new technology, is not to leave anyone behind.