Panama is set to proceed with plans to switch off the analogue signal in three of the country’s most highly-populated regions on 18 October 2018, reports Panama America, citing Edwin Castillo, head of public services authority ASEP. Following a public consultation, ASEP set the analogue TV blackout date for the provinces of Panama, Panama West, and Colon, which together account for 62 percent of the country's TV homes. However, at least 90 percent of households need to be covered by DTT before the switchoff can take place, said Castillo.
Analogue transmissions will then cease in Cocle, Herrera, Los Santos and Veraguas in phase two, Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro in phase three and the province of Darien in phase four. Panama expects to complete the migration to DTT by 2020.