18-12, Nishiochiai 2-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8575, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5906-0211
FAX: +81-3-5906-0112

Information Technology

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF PROJECT

Although the use of print media such as newspapers and magazines and electronic media such as the Internet is not widespread in Djibouti, radio is in widespread use, and in addition to this, there are 80,000 television sets in a country of 833,000 people (2007, Djibouti government). According to estimations made by the Djibouti government, 80% of the population has access to a television set, meaning that radio and television play a significant role in the communication to and the education of the citizenry. In 1977, the Radiodiffusion Television de Djibouti (RTD) broadcasting station was established. In 1991, Japan provided grant aid for studio equipment, including the construction of a TV Station Building for program productions, which enabled television broadcasts. For over 10 years now, RTD has continued to maintain and utilize the equipment and facilities to broadcast television programs. However, broadcasting has become increasingly difficult due to the now obsolete equipment and the lack of spare parts. Considering the difficultly in updating the equipment and facilities because of a lack of finances, the Government of Djibouti requested grant aid to update the broadcasting station's facilities, including equipment in the studio where programs are produced and the master control system.
The Basic Design Study Team recognized the necessity to update the master control system, the studio system, the editing system and the ENG equipment and the Project has been decided to implement. The following objectives are to be met:
i. Update obsolete broadcasting equipment to allow RTD to continuously provide a rich and diverse supply of information to the citizenry as a public broadcaster.
ii. Move away from the existing analog broadcasting system, introducing the digital system to increase efficiency.

CHARACTERISTICS, CONCEPT, STANCE & SKILLS OF PROJECT

This project aims to upgrade the existing broadcasting system in the main control room, the heart of a broadcasting station, the studio for producing television programs and the news studio in a move towards digital broadcasts. The whole broadcasting station is upgraded because of the difficulty in upgrading only a part of the existing system when changing the transmission signal from analog to digital. Along with the upgrades mentioned above, the non-linear video edit system, a 1:1 edit system which is often used for news broadcasting, and the news reporting system is upgraded to integrate the new video recording format.

EFFECT OF PROJECT

(1) Direct Effects
1) Continuation of television broadcasting services
The existing equipment will be updated, improving the availability of spare parts. This will make it possible to continue television broadcasting services.
2) Recorded video storage stabilized, storage space minimized
RTD broadcasting equipment will be upgraded from the existing analog system to the digital system. The new system can record the videos in a digital signal, making it possible to 1) keep data for an extended period of time, 2) compress data, lowering the storage space required, while having other benefits.
3) Wider availability of transmission methods
Through the digitization of video records, it will become possible to transmit these videos through the Internet and other channels. Also distribution in DVD and the other media will be available.
4) Improved production efficiency
The production of television programs will be made more efficient through the introduction of the digital standard, making the production of programs requested by the National Education Ministry and the Ministry of Health a possibility. This program will also resolve the problem of equipment shortage and will make it possible to increase the number of the programs produced.
•Public education promotion program: within 5 years, it will become possible to produce about 4 documentary programs and 50 spot programs a year, while 3 documentaries and 40 spot programs are currently produced yearly.
• Independently produced programs: within 5 years, it will become possible to produce 10 programs a week, while 7 are currently produced weekly.