Azerbaijan, Baku, July 29 / Trend N.Ismayilova /
A complete transition to digital broadcasting in Azerbaijan will took place in the first quarter of 2013, while this process to be completed only in 2015 in the world, Azerbaijani Communications and IT Minister Ali Abbasov said on Friday.
The first digital package consisting of ten local channels will be available at 90 percent of Azerbaijani territory few months later. Following this, the ministry will propose to limit the import of television sets receiving signals of analog broadcasting, he said.
The program on transition to the digital broadcasting in Azerbaijan, approved by Cabinet in 2011, provides for the preparation of a frequency plan for the implementation and development of digital television, digital package and definition of open and closed channels, preparation of proposals for changes in legal acts and laws, rules licensing of digital broadcasting and set standards for digital broadcasting, as well as proposals for organization of production and decoders for digital television transmitters.
The program is aimed to develop broadcasting infrastructure, increase demand for digital television services, ensure information security of country's air space, broadcast on the basis of common technology standards, and provide interactivity through transmitting of more than 10 programs by one channel.
Switching to digital broadcasting will be realized in two stages while maintaining the analog one.
The first stage covering 2011-2012 includes ensuring broadcasting of at least one open package (8-12 channels) in Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan and the border areas of the country, and as a result digital broadcasting is expected to cover 60-70 percent of the population;
The second stage covering 2013 includes installation of digital transmitters to broadcast two, three or more packages (each of 8-12 channels), which include, along with state, public, private and regional channels the ones of interest for the population.