Digital suppliers industry forum established

AEEMA's chief executive, Angus Robinson, has announced that Australia's peak high technology industry association for infrastructure suppliers is responding to demands from the suppliers of digital television and radio product for a more coordinated approach in addressing the planning and implementation issues related to digital television and radio in Australia.

"AEEMA is looking forward to broad industry support for the immediate establishment of AEEMA's Digital Suppliers Industry Forum with membership ranging from the major global manufacturers to small Australian-based suppliers of digital broadcasting products and services," Robinson said.

Robinson also said the government's proposed Digital Action Plan, relating to analog switch-over, would be an immediate focus for the Forum.

"Many of the Digital Action Plan initiatives suggested by the Communications Minister, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, in her recent media statement would require a coordinated effort by digital television suppliers acting on a number of fronts including testing and conformance, labelling and marketing," Ross Henderson, interim chair of the Forum, said.

Henderson added that the group would also be seeking a role in the development of digital radio in Australia and would provide a link for the digital suppliers to AEEMA's Connected Home Forum and form an important pillar of AEEMA's ICT Australia division.