Digital TV could be available nationwide by 2010

DIGITAL terrestrial television could be available in all Irish homes in three years if a new pilot project in 500 households proves successful, the Communications Minister said yesterday.

Marking the launch of the Government’s Digital Terrestrial Television Pilot, Communications Minister Noel Dempsey said that digital television could be available countrywide by 2010, two years ahead of the European deadline of 2012.

According to the European Commission’s stipulations, analogue television should be switched off by 2012 and upgraded to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).