The Information and Broadcasting ministry has opened a dedicated account on social networking site Facebook to interact with people to create awareness about its plans to digitise the cable sector.

"The Government has launched a new and dedicated facebook account, namely, www.facebook.com /DigitalIndiaMIB to facilitate exchange of information and clarifications on a wider canvas of public participation, covering a whole gamut of public concerns," a statement from the ministry said today.

The ministry's facebook account carries answers to some of the frequently asked questions (faqs) and provides links to other connected organizations involved in digitisation.

Officials in the ministry hope that the 'Wall' on the facebook account would become an interactive platform and also be a source of information for individuals as well as the stakeholders like the Multi-System Operators and Cable Operators.

The ministry has set an ambitious deadline for complete digitisation of the Cable sector by December 31, 2014. In Phase I of this plan, the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata have to be digitalised by June 30 this year.

The digital switch-over of cable television necessitates adequate public awareness about the new system and the changes to be made at the level of stakeholders including television viewers to be digital ready by the cut-off dates, the statement said.

The I and B ministry is also planning special awareness campaigns in conjunction with state governments to disseminate information related to digitisation.