This week sees the unveiling of the Multi-track Digital Audio Coding and Decoding Technology Specification, an intellectual property standard for China's digital audio industry.

Local media are hailing the new standard because it is believed to bring an end to the monopolization of some foreign companies in this field and will greatly boost China's digital audio industry development.

The standard was made on the basis of Guangzhou Guangsheng Digital Technology Company's self-developed technology and compiled after the review of the administration oversight department. Lou Qinjian, vice minister of the Ministry of Information Industry, says that the release of the new standard will give a priority for China's digital audio industry and increase its competitiveness in the global market.

Track coding and decoding technology is the key to digital television, DVD, disk and video television businesses. With this standard, it has now become a new growth point for such new services as ordering and subscription.