Sri Lanka to complete digital transition by 2020

Sri Lanka is likely to complete the transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting by 2020, according to a statement by the country’s Minister of Mass Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella.

The minister says that the country will have a five year plan to ensure smooth transition. A report on the digitalisation project states it will be supported by a loan of JPY 13,717 million (USD 130 million) provided through the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Sri Lankan government will fund close to LKR 4 billion (USD 30.7 million) for the digitisation process.

By 2016, Western and Northern provinces are to be digitised. The project will include the construction of antenna towers, transmission stations, an administration centre and a digital TV centre.

The country had earlier announced it will adopt the Japanese Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard.