Thousands of people living in the east of the country are to be offered free digital television by the Government.
Under a special trial, households in the greater Dublin area will be given set top boxes to allow for access to hundreds of channels.
The European Commission has proposed 2012 as the date by which switch-off of analogue television could be completed across Europe.
The Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) trial will provide an insight into the issues associated with the roll out of a national DTT system and the potential impact on the analogue network. It is due to run until August 2008.
Details of the scheme are to be announced by Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey.
