China plans to conduct an experimental digital television broadcast in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen this year, a national conference was told Saturday.

China has developed the key digital television broadcasting technology on its own and the three cities have been designated as experimental areas for the TV broadcasting, according to officials attending the national conference on the matter.

Shenzhen plans to make the digital television broadcasting service available to 10,000 households.

Sponsored by the State Development Planning Commission, the conference was attended by officials from the State Economic and Trade Commission, the Ministry of Information Industry, the State Administration of Radio, film and Television, the State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision and the three cities.

China has patented 26 technologies concerning digital TV broadcasting and transmission systems since May 1999, and the figure is expected to exceed 40 within this year, sources said.

China has formulated seven technical standards on digital TV broadcasting and standards on related receivers are being formulated.

However, no timetable has been made to replace analogue TV sets with digital ones.