KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia wants Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) to go fully digital in its television broadcast by 2018.

Deputy Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said RTM was implementing several programmes to migrate from analog to digital television broadcast.

"MYTV Broadcasting Sdn Bhd has done trial broadcast in areas on the east coast, Sabah and Sarawak. With digitisation, the coverage will be improved," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Jailani was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad (BN-Lipis) on digital television broadcast compared to the Astro pay television service.

MYTV is licensed by the government to build and manage infrastructure and network facilities for DTTB receivers to migrate from analog to digital television broadcast.

Jailani said Astro should inform the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission about proposed fee increases. The last increase was in 2014.

"MCMC has to study the reasons for the proposed increase based on the principles set out under Section 198 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.

"After that, the minister with the powers provided under Section 199 of CMA 1998, may determine the price of each service offered in the public interest."

The fees charged by Astro come as low as RM42.35 per month for the basic package to as high as RM241.68 per month for the premium package.

Astro also offers a plan called NJOI which allows customers to enjoy 22 TV channels and 20 radio stations by only paying RM328 once with no monthly payment.

-- BERNAMA