[August 19, 2009] Peru to promote Japan digital broadcasting tech in S. America: minister+ Tweet (Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOKYO, Aug. 19_(Kyodo) _ Peru will work together with Brazil to promote the adoption in Latin America of Japan's technological specifications for terrestrial digital TV broadcasting in order to reduce initial costs, the visiting Peruvian transport and communications minister said Wednesday. To cut the cost of introducing the Japanese specifications, the number of users should increase, Enrique Cornejo said during an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo. Peru decided in April to adopt the Japanese specifications for its terrestrial digital TV broadcasting, becoming the second country outside Japan, after Brazil, to do so. Brazil began airing terrestrial digital television programs with Japanese technology in December 2007. Peru picked the Japanese specifications over three others -- U.S., European and Chinese standards -- because so-called one-segment broadcasting can be received by mobile phones free of charge under the Japanese technology, Cornejo said. The availability of such broadcasting programs aimed at owners of mobile phones should win popular support in Peru. While tuners to enable analogue TVs to receive digital programs are priced at more than $100 each in Peru, the Peruvian government is seeking ways of lowering the price, Cornejo said. Peru and Brazil will hold an international conference in Lima in September to encourage other Latin American countries to adopt the Japanese specifications. Argentina and Venezuela are reportedly considering adopting the Japanese format. Peru plans to begin terrestrial digital TV broadcasting on a trial basis in March next year to pave the way for launching full-scale services in 2015. Meanwhile, Cornejo said Peru may be able to conclude a free trade agreement with Japan in November. On the occasion of attending the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be held in Singapore in mid-November, Peruvian President Alan Garcia will possibly visit Japan to sign the accord, he added. (c) 2009 Kyodo News International, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]