The Ministry of Information and Communications says it will issue a set of digital TV standards in preparation for the digitalisation of TV broadcasting in Viet Nam.

The move follows a request from the Japanese Business Association in HCM City, which includes a number of TV makers like Sony and Panasonic.

The association said a set of standards (technical specifications) was required before they could begin making the new digital TV sets, particularly CI+/CI (common interface) connectors which would take time.

The ministry said Viet Nam planned to cease broadcasting analogue TV in five major cities next year as digital TV takes over.

During the transition period until 2020, households would still gain access to digital TV through the existing sets using set-top decoder boxes, which they would have to purchase.

The State would help about 2 million poor families buy the boxes, the budget coming from the telecommunication public-interest fund.

TV companies would concentrate on developing content while other companies would take charge of broadcasting.

Digitalisation would be carried out in four phases, covering different groups of provinces and cities.

The first phase would be carried out in Ha Noi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho; the second phase in 26 provinces with a deadline of December 31, 2016; the third phase in 18 more provinces; the last phase in remote provinces of the north and central region. — VNS