Last Updated 13 years ago by Kenya Engineer
The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) will not switch off analogue broadcasting signals until September 15.This means households will continue receiving TV signals without decoders or set top boxes. CCK pushed forward the date for the migration after a meeting between the telecommunications industry regulator and the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek).
“The compromise was reached for analogue signal switch-off on or after September 15,” said Stephen Mutoro, Cofek secretary-general.
The two parties agreed that the analogue platform used by local TV stations will be available until September 15.
The digital migration would be implemented in phases. Nairobi is slated as among the regions where the analogue signal will be switched off first. The move is expected to give households time to acquire gadgets that can receive digital signals and decode them into analogue signals for viewing on conventional TV sets.
Most of the TV sets in Kenya are analogue with few of them receiving digital signals. CCK had initially set a July 2012 date for commencement of the digital migration process but this was postponed to September, then to December 31.
Cofek however moved to court to stop the process arguing consumers were not ready. The court ordered CCK and Cofek to get an amicable formula to the switch off deadline.
Among the issues raised by Cofek include the cost of set top boxes – the gadget that one needs to decode digital signals to analogue. Currently, the available decoders cost above Sh5,000 which is out of reach for many consumers. Cheaper decoders are available but are tied to pay TV firms and one has to pay a monthly fee to view the TV channels.
The meeting agreed that CCK, Cofek and other stakeholders would explore modalities to lower costs of decoders. They also agreed that the final retail prices would be left to market forces as opposed to regulated prices.
“We agreed that mechanisms to lower the cost of Set Top Boxes (STB’s) will be explored further in order to bring the price down significantly. The number of licensed vendors of the STB’s should also be increased from the current 22 to highest possible. Import and VAT waivers as well as subsidies should also be worked out to the extent possible. The pricing be left to market forces of supply and demand,” said Mutoro.
“CCK will come up with a strategy to ensure a cost-effective consumer information, education and communication on all matters related to digital migration. CCK will also draw lessons from the Tanzania experience.”,he added.
The digital migration deadline is in line with an International Telecommunications Union — a UN body’s global deadline of 2015.
Source:Standard Digital
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