Welcome to Digital Kenya Home Welcome to Digital Kenya Print Email Digital Kenya is responsible for ensuring the country migrates from analogue to digital television broadcasting before the worldwide deadline of 2015. The migration to Digital Television broadcasting is a Government initiative resulting from the decision made at the Regional Radio Conference of 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland (RRC-06). The decision requires countries in the RRC planning area to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting technologies by 17th June 2015. Kenya’s migration from Analogue to Digital broadcasting is being spearheaded by Digital Kenya. In Kenya, the digital migration process was started on December 9, 2009 when the President, Mwai Kibaki, launched the signal in Nairobi. At the onset, Kenya had adopted DVB-T technology. However, due to advancement in technology, the Government made a decision to upgrade this technology to DVB-T2 in December 2010. Compared to DVB –T, DVB-T2 offers better sound and picture quality; has capacity for more channels; has wider geographic coverage; has improved security features and it can accommodate high definition, standard definition, mobile TV and digital audio. The Digital Television Committee (DTC) The Government, in 2008, formed a Digital Television Committee (DTC) comprising members drawn from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC); Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK); Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC); National Communication Secretariat (NCS); and representatives from the Media Owners Association (MOA). The DTC receives logistical support from the Digital Kenya Secretariat which is housed at the CCK Centre. The DTC is chaired by the by the Permanent Secretary for Information and Communications, Dr. Bitange Ndemo. Milestones Kenya is way ahead of many African countries in the digital migration marathon and has achieved the following milestones: In March 2007 the Government established a taskforce to advice on a roadmap for Digital Migration. In March 2008 the taskforce recommendations were adopted by the Government and the setting up of the Digital Television Committee to oversee the implementation of Digital Migration 2009 KBC receives Government Authorization as the first Broadcast Signal Distributor. 9th December 2009 H.E. President Mwai Kibaki launches the pilot phase on DVB-T signal. In December 2010 the government adopted the Digital transmission technology DVB-T2 for further infrastructure rollout. In August 2011 forums with Broadcasters, vendors and other partners were held. In October 2011 a second signal distributor, Pan Africa Network Group (Kenya) Co. Ltd, is licensed. February 2012 the DVB-T2 signal went on air in Nairobi and its environs. In June 2012 Treasury approves the waiver of import duty on set top boxes by for the Financial Year 2012/2013. Also in June 2012 the second digital platform went on air in Nairobi in. On 8th June 2012 a large scale Consumer Awareness Campaign is launched. 31st August 2012 the DVB-T signal transmission Ceased.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:31:48 +0000