It is public knowledge that "Singapore will complete the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting by 2020, in line with ASEAN’s agreed timeframe for making the switch." - See more at: http://www.mda.gov.sg/AboutMDA/News...eechDetail.aspx?speech=5#sthash.L8pzPTcD.dpuf
There is cost for broadcasters to carry tv signals, for both over-the-air and cable network. Starhub is required to carry FTA signals as part of the MDA licensing requirements. If FTA analogue signal is no longer available, it is illogical to stick to the licensing requirement which is no longer applicable. Where are the FTA signals coming from?
Can you give more details regarding the other countries you mentioned?
Who knows right? Analog cable may still run. Technically, I believe it's possible to route all OTA signals directly to analog cable (underground). Since they wanna free up wave spectrum, they should be referring to OTA signals isn't it? If it's analog cable, signals run thru underground so by right technically it will not be affected by outside OTA signals.
Anyway it's still early to say. MDA may or may not change their minds. Say by 2020, if majority still have not switchover or some who have trouble accessing digital for whatever reasons and only has access to CATV point they may prolong or decide to run CATV analog longer or at a indefinite period just like some countries doing the same thing.
Now... Let's talk about the new HDB flats still being installed with cable points. Once analog fully switches off, the cable point become obsolete forever? Why waste so much resource installing those points even at new housing estates? Surely not specially for residents who wants to subscribe to starhub tv? (Really?) Or maybe MDA will, after all carry T2 signals over cable. But unlikely. Because they're designed for terrestrial over the air only. Unless they come up with a DVB-C set top box which receives unencrypted FTA channels just like some of us who can already receive digital channels via our scv cable points (DVB-C) on DVB-C televisions.
So hmm it's still early days. We can only speculate the possibilities.
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