Fees charged to broadcasters for the use of radio wavelengths will not be raised to cover the cost of the switch to terrestrial digital broadcasting, telecommunications ministry Toranosuke Katayama said Tuesday.

"We will consider making use of the fees but will be not be thinking of a fee hike," Katayama, minister of public management, home affairs, posts and telecommunications, told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

The government plans to have TV broadcasters start terrestrial digital broadcasts in the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas by the end of 2003.

The cost of preventing radio interference between digital and analog broadcasts is estimated at 180 billion yen.

The telecom ministry plans to secure the funds by setting aside fees it collects from broadcasters, mobile phone operators and other users of broadcasting frequencies.

Katayama said that separate from the need for securing funds to cover the cost, the ministry will consider revising the current fee system.

"There are lots of views concerning the fees for use of radio frequencies. We would like to review the system as a whole under the telecom law," he said.