Georgian Gov't announces digital broadcasting plans

The Georgian Government has announced its plans on how the country will switch from analogue to digital broadcasting.

Digital broadcasting is an advanced technology that enables broadcasters to offer television with better picture and sound quality and multiple channels of programming.

Georgia will switch from analogue to digital broadcast television before June 17, 2015.

The document released today by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia has been prepared with support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). It considered recommendations from the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) and non-governmental organizations.

Due to a limited resource of frequencies, member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) agreed in 2006 they would switch to digital broadcasting.

The deadline for the digital switch is June 17, 2015 although a majority of those countries have already switched to digital broadcasting.

The Government’s digital changeover plan highlighted several changes in various fields, including legislative, technological standards, multiplexes, regional broadcasting, parallel broadcasting and customers (Set Top Box).

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia will fund the Digital Broadcasting Agency, which will function during the changeover period.

Furthermore, a 24-hour multilingual information hotline will be launched and a special information website (www.digital.gov.ge) will be created.