The digital signal allows for a higher image quality (photo: Manuel Diaz)
Havana, CUBA.- While in Latin America more than twenty countries afforded the digital television service with a large number of channels and high quality in early 2014, Cuba began the process of digitization of the television signal. But the people never expected that this matter would be so costly for your pocket.
People like Juan Manuel Perdomo, refrigeration technician who retired more than 15 years ago, had to be limited for six months to buy clothes and some food to collect and acquire the set-top box is needed to capture the digital signal.
“there is no denying that the signal is now excellent. I could not see well before television because the signal was very bad,” he says.
Despite the elapsed time, digital television has not yet been able to reach all households, the high prices that have these modern devices and other accessories costs necessary to achieve an optimal signal-like antennae and coaxial cables, make it difficult to . purchase
the first decoder boxes which started selling in the store network were the KONKA brand, KSDT863-M model, 47.35 CUC; and SOYEA model SDP160 to 38.30 CUC, both capable of providing a standard definition image.
On the other hand, the price of accessories is between 0.40 and 0.45 cents CUC one meter coaxial cable; 0.30 cents connectors; 15 CUC outdoor antennas, around 13 and 16 CUC interior; 3.20 and 3.90 CUC signal distributors; and 9.90 and 11.85 CUC amplifiers.
A retired in checkbook Cuba has an average of 200 pesos to 400 pesos (between 8 CUC and 16 CUC), and a worker earns an average salary month of just under 600 Cuban pesos. Therefore it difficult seriously enjoy this technological advantage.
Currently there are 11 models of set-top boxes in the Cuban market. Seven standard definition and four HD. Of those seven, there are two basic five with USB port, and the four HD models also have USB port.
Higher prices?
the encargas stores sell all the equipment for the digital signal are chains TRD Caribe and CIMEX.
currently the decoding signal boxes have a price ranging between 26 and 50 CUC. The cheapest are rare in the market. The last to leave have a cost of 49.95 CUC and feature an HDMI cable that improves image quality.
Despite the high prices, officials of the Cuban government and Luis Orlando López Pérez, head of group buying appliances TRD Caribe, said to a television program when selling these devices was conceived, the Cuban government decided that the boxes had non recaudatorio margin.
“I can assure you set-top box has the minimum possible price because although it is bought abroad, is released from customs tariffs; We are also talking about an advanced technology, “he said.
Still the official price data to market products have not come to light, so it would be wrong to make statements how are you without role to support these arguments.
One issue much discussed is the subsidy to retirees and other individuals struggling to buy these devices.
“Many TVs accept the digital signal without using necessarily a box. They are selling in stores for high prices, but the state is selling some retired officers of the FAR for a price of 1200 CUP (48CUC). So why with other retirees can not do such subsidies to the neediest? Cases, “says Juan Manuel Perdomo, who lives in retirement.
> top box (photo: Manuel Diaz)
Causal or planned …
cataloged by their profits in the country three types of set-top boxes, entry-level and middle standard definition, and high-end HD and USB port, which coincidentally began going on sale after a large number of usurious bought between 2014 and early 2015 low and mid-range.
the high-definition set-top boxes allow programming test, an HD channel that renders an experimental programming on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), with movies, sports and music.
“I had bought the first box of 48 CUC he had no HD signal. Then, four months and surprise, they announced that they would take a new nearly the same price (49.95CUC) having a test channel in HD, where among other things you can see on the weekends some football matches live. My boyfriend heard nothing of it and buy another box more to see around that channel, “said Roxana Lopez, a young medical student.
” They should have taken all models at once or at least have informed the models that were going to get, because for 2 CUC more they took a better one, “he adds.
on the other hand, Luis Fraga, a government worker in the capital, said he bought the of 38 CUC but I would have liked to buy the HD, for only 10 CUC more; but now can not, would have to sell which has for a lower price.
An uncertain future
Miladis Fundora Betancourt, director of the Educational Channel and for the Digital television in ICRT he said on national television that will not be until 2024 that the ICRT complete the investment process in the Cuban TV. Therefore, channels provincial television centers still continue without appearing in the digital signal.
Another question is whether within the new channels that has promised to improve its programming ICRT, Cubans can taste a serious and committed to the truth of the current Cuban reality and the world television.
the question of whether the call can be analog blackout in Cuba where the average citizen still can not buy a normal salary also arise, “national currency”, a set-top box let alone a modern TV.
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