ITU adopts Chinese- made interactive content format as new global standard

The International Telecommunication Union ( ITU) has adopted a new file structure for interactive mobile comic and animation content designed independently in China as its global standard on March 16, China’s Ministry of Culture announced on Monday.

Known as T. 621, the file structure will be able to be used on all types of mobile devices and platforms to provide high- definition content in a relatively small file.

The new file structure will also allow content creators to provide interactive content such as motion graphics and audio for online comics, which is in high demand in today’s market.

Prior to the establishment of T. 621 as a new standard, content providers in different countries and regions would have to adapt their content for the different formats used by the numerous platforms around the globe.

At the press conference on Monday, Cheng Sheng, an associate professor at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, pointed out that with T. 621 acting as a new standard across platforms, this will reduce costs and save time for content providers, as well as boost cooperation between companies.

He noted that the adoption of this new standard is also sure to further push China’s animation and comic industries to cooperate with international platforms.

“Now we can fully focus on creating content,” Xiang Lisheng, vice president of Migu Comic Co Ltd, told the Global Times on Monday, expressing his excitement over the convenience this new standard will bring to companies such as his.

Xiang also expressed his belief that this will create a new industry chain focused on interactive media on mobile devices, since the file structure allows online comics to include visual effects and even live streaming content.

According to him, his company already cooperates with Japanese companies using this file structure.

“It’s cheaper than other types of animation, but provides a much better experience for users than ordinary comics,” he said.

The Ministry of Culture also announced that developing a digital creative industry has been included in the country’s 13th Five- Year Plan.

According to the FiveYear Plan ( 2016- 20), China expects the digital creative industry to reach an output value of 800 billion yuan ($ 116 billion) by 2020.