Ireland's terrestrial analogue television network will be switched off next October, as the country makes the change to the new national digital TV network.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte said the old network would be turned off on October 24th 2012, as the changeover to the digital TV network is officially completed. Northern Ireland's analogue network is also being switched off on the same date.

That will leave Irish TV viewers using the free-to-air digital terrestial television (DTT) service Saorview system for subscription-free TV services, which RTÉ launched in May. The analogue and digital networks currently work in parallel, and will continue to do so until the switchover date.

"The availability of digital television and the switching off of the analogue TV network in a year's time is a very positive thing for Ireland and will offer TV viewers a number of additional benefits, such as clearer picture and sound quality, more TV channels, radio channels, information services and high definition TV," Mr Rabbitte said.

About 250,000 households across the State still rely on an aerial to watch TV. These customer will need to either buy a Saorview set-top box, move to a pay TV service such as that provided by UPC, Sky or other cable and broadband providers, or buy a new TV with an integrated Saorview receiver.

An information campaign is underway to highlight the changeover and what TV viewers need to do to access the new service.

The move to digital will free up valuable radio spectrum, as although there are more channels on offer, the digital service uses much less radio spectrum. This could potentially be used for the provision of mobile or broadband services.