Rwanda, Tanzania lead Africa in switchover to digital TV

Rwanda and Tanzania are the only African countries that have fully migrated from the analogue to digital television platform ahead of the global deadline of June 17. PHOTO | TEA GRAPHIC 

By SCOLA KAMAU

In Summary

• Tanzania and Rwanda completed their migration processes in March and July 2014 respectively.
• Kenya’s switchover on February 14 is yet to be registered by the ATU.
• Uganda has planned its final phase of digital migration within a month, while Burundi is yet to ship in the required equipment amid rising political tensions ahead of its general election in June and July.

Rwanda and Tanzania are the only African countries that have fully migrated from the analogue to the digital television platform ahead of the global deadline of June 17.

According to the Africa Telecommunications Union (ATU), the two East African countries have rallied ahead of their counterparts to ensure that all analogue signals are switched off.

“The official information we have is that so far, only Tanzania and Rwanda have switched off all analogue terrestrial TV stations in their territories. Mauritius has just officially communicated that they plan to switch off on June 17,” said ATU in an e-mail to The EastAfrican.

The International Telecommunications Union conference held in Geneva in 2006 set the June 17 deadline for migration from analogue to digital broadcasting in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Tanzania and Rwanda completed their migration processes in March and July 2014 respectively. Kenya’s switchover on February 14 is yet to be registered by the ATU.

Uganda has planned its final phase of digital migration within a month, while Burundi is yet to ship in the required equipment amid rising political tensions ahead of its general election in June and July.

China’s Export-Import (Exim) Bank offered $40 million to finance a joint venture between StarTimes and Burundi’s national broadcaster, but heightened violence remains a challenge.

The ATU has cited financial constraints alongside public resistance, a lack of commitment by governments and resistance from private broadcasting firms as challenges to migration.

In Kenya, consumers have tough choices on which decoders to buy. South African firm MultiChoice reduced the price of its DStv HD decoder to Ksh2,499 ($26) from Ksh4,800 ($49); Zuku offers its satellite decoders at Ksh3,999 ($41),  while StarTimes  and Bamba retail at Ksh4,500($46) and Ksh3,299 ($34) respectively.

Analysts say that having universal decoders that can accept cards from different providers would work like a new phone that is not fixed to any operator.

“Just like if one wishes to switch from one Sim card to another, inserting a card would help viewers to enjoy any provider’s options,” said Thomas Makau, an ICT and telecoms analyst.

Mobile company Safaricom launched its decoders at Ksh9,999 ($103); ADNL, which comprises Nation Media Group, Standard Group and Royal Media Services, recently announced that its decoders will cost Ksh3,500 ($36). ADNL is targeting 500,000 STBs initially, and to rise to 1 million in the near future.

For Kenyans, pay TV still dominates the market. With the free to air offer in the pay TV packages, it may be hard for individual broadcasters to get a sizeable share of the market.

The Supreme Court ruled on February 13 that digital migration must continue as planned, rejecting the TV stations’ request for a three-month extension. 

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