Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, has confirmed that the Government is planning to develop a pilot programme for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in Ireland.
The Government is inviting expressions of interest for the infrastructural elements of the pilot.
In a statement, the Minister said he was committed to the long-term provision of a free-to-air digital terrestrial television platform. He said most countries in Europe were starting to switch over from analogue terrestrial transmission to digital.
Under the pilot scheme, initial broadcasts will transmit from the Three Rock site in Dublin and the Clermont Carn site in County Louth. The Department says the transmissions will allow for technical testing of services, for trialling and demonstrating of existing and new channels and services, and for displaying the possibilities of DTT for viewers and users.
