Digital TV Group has announced plans to ensure a common specification across equipment for the new Freesat service, which launches next year.

The group's testing centre, DTG Testing, has been chosen to conduct the conformance testing for Freesat compliant receivers.

Along with Freesat's technology partners Siemens, Arqiva and eventIS, DTG will work with manufacturers Humax, Panasonic, Sagem and Alba to make sure their devices are compliant and meet the same specifications.

Richard Lindsay-Davies, director general of the Digital TV Group, said: "A common specification for service and receiver conformance is critical to the success of advanced digital services as it provides the framework for a vibrant and stable market. In addition, consumer trust in the brand is vital and knowing that DTG Testing is defining the test requirements for all of the products necessary to bring Freesat to market will go some way to ensuring this."

A similar process was implemented with the manufacturers of digital terrestrial set top boxes when Freeview Playback launched.