Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Babayeva / By 2015 Azerbaijan will switch to digital television broadcasting, as was recommended by the International Telecommunications Union, said Gulam Abdullayev, senior consultant of the Department for Coordinating state-run enterprises of the Azerbaijani Communications Ministry.
"We are prepared to commence implementation of this large program on the transition to digital broadcasting, as soon as it is approved by the Government," he said.
The program on transition to digital broadcasting in Azerbaijan was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers several months ago. It comprises three stages: from 2007 to 2010, from 2011 to 2013 and from 2014 to 2015.
In the initial state two packages of broadcasting each containing four channels will be put into use in Baku, Ganja and Nakhchivan, whereas only one package will be applied in other regions of the country. As a result 60-70% of population will be included in the digital broadcasting zone.
In the second stage one more package will be commissioned in Baku, Ganja and Nakhchivan and other regions, which will enable expansion of coverage of the population from 60-70% to 90%.
By 2013 there are plans to implement three 12-program packages.
The digital broadcasting system was first set up in Azerbaijan as a pilot project on 10 October 2004.