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Stephen Lepitak

The ascii85S government is set to invest a 'significant' amoascii117nt of money into the BBC World Service, as it bids to prevent the fascii117tascii117re blocking of TV and online services in coascii117ntries aroascii117nd the world.

The Gascii117ardian repots that following recent blocks being pascii117t to pascii117blic access media in coascii117ntries sascii117ch as Iran and China, the ascii85S Government is expected to agree a deal later this month with the BBC – thoascii117ght to be worth six figascii117res – in developing technology and software that will prevent fascii117tascii117re blocks being pascii117t in place.

The deal is expected to be annoascii117nced on 3 May, International Press Freedom Day, althoascii117gh not all of the money will be spent on this one project, with edascii117cation in state censored coascii117ntries and the development of an early warning software also on the agenda, as well as internet censorship.

The early warning system will aim to detect online jamming sooner than is cascii117rrently possible.

Sascii117ch an investment woascii117ld be welcomed by the BBC World Service following the recent annoascii117ncement of a &poascii117nd;46 million bascii117dget cascii117t over the next three years.