DTT in Kenya officially launched
President Mwai Kibaki officially launched DVB-T based Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting in Kenya at a ceremony in the grounds of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) on Wednesday the 9th December.
The President observed, "We must use the expanded broadcasting space to build on our national unity and expand on the development agenda. Let us always remember that the expanded media freedom must never be used to undermine our sense of nationhood as underscored in our national anthem, may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty.''
He went on to say that "There are many Kenyan investors who are waiting to be allocated frequencies. We have applications for 60 TV licenses and more than 150 for FM radio. Currently this demand cannot be met. With the migration to digital broadcasting, it will now be possible to award new licenses, increasing choice and giving more room to a broader democratic space."
He noted that the Government had set a deadline for full migration to DTT by the year 2012 despite the one set by the International Telecommunications Union of 2015.
The launch, which marked phase one of transition to Digital Television Broadcasting, covers Nairobi and its environs, among them Kajiado, Machakos, Naivasha and Muranga.
Source: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
Item added: 14th December 2009
The Digital Transition Begins
Kenya began its official journey from analogue to digital TV on the 31st September 2009, when the state broadcaster KBC started the migration from analogue to digital transmission.
The system adopted for Kenya is DVB-T with MPEG-4, H.264.AVC coding and the first transmissions start in Nairobi, Naivasha, Machakos, Kajiado and Muranga using a single multiplex.
Before the 2010 World Cup, coverage will have been extended to Webuye, Nyeri, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Meru, Kisii and Malindi.
The service is operated by Signet, a subsidiary of the Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), specifically set up to broadcast and distribute the DTT signals. It will operate on an open basis providing broadcasters with a route to switch from analogue to digital transmission and minimise anti-competitive behaviour.
Until 2012, when the transition to digital has been completed, Signet will carry private broadcasters signals free of charge, but will charge for its services after this date.
The complete switch to digital broadcasting is expected to cost Sh6 billion (USD 80 million) and an initial Sh152 million (USD 2 million) has already been allocated.
At present there are around 4 million TV households in Kenya and it has been proposed by the Digital Television Committee that the government subsidise or provide incentives for consumers to purchase compliant equipment on a similar basis to the coupon system recently used in the United States.
At a recent press conference the Information and Communication Permanent Secretary, Dr Bitange Ndemo said that Nairobi University and Jomo Kenyatta University would take a technological lead in the DTT process.
A specification for compliant set top boxes is currently available at http://www.cck.go.ke/UserFiles/File/Set_top_boxes.pdf
Main source: Kenyan Broadcasting Authority
Item added: 16th November 2009
DVB-H mobile TV service agreement
Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom has signed an agreement with Nokia and DMTV concerning the DVB-H mobile TV service in the country. The agreement will enable Safaricom subscribers to watch DStv's menu of TV programmes from certain Nokia mobile phones. As part of an introductory offer, the service is free until April 2010 for customers with DVB-H enabled Nokia phones. The service is currently available on the Nokia N96 and N77, which both have an integrated DVB-H receiver. In addition, users can access DStv Mobile service on the Nokia N79, N85, N86, N97, E75 and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic devices by purchasing a Nokia Mobile TV Receiver SU-33W. The handsets will be available at any Safaricom Retail Centers in Nairobi and from DStv and Nokia dealers. Coverage is currently available in Nairobi and Mombasa and plans are already underway to extend this to other parts of Kenya.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 22nd June 2009
DVB-H service begins
Telecom operator Safaricom and DSTV Mobile have begun their DVB-H service, which will be officially launched on the 1st June.
The service will be available in Nairobi initially and offer 10 local and International channels including Super Sport Update, Super Sport 3, CNN, BBC World, KBC, Trinity Broadcasting network (TBN), Channel O, cartoon Network, magic world and Africa Magic.
DSTV Mobile is owned by Multichoice who have already launched DVB-H trial services in Namibia and with partners MTN in Nigeria
Source: Safaricom website
Item added: 6th May 2008
DMTV announces roll out of DVB-H in Kenya
Digital Mobile TV (DMTV) recently announced that it plans to launch a mobile TV service utilising DVB-H technology in Kenya. The service would allow users to view 10 live TV channels on their mobile phones.
DMTV CEO Francois Theron is reported to have said at a press briefing that the company is in the process of concluding an agreement with a mobile operator to market a service in Kenya and that this would make it the seventh country in the world to rollout the product.
The service will be provided in partnership with pay-TV operator Multichoice and the KBC.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 30th October 2007
Kenya to digitise by 2015
The Radio Communication Conference (RRC) held in Geneva from May 15 to May16th resulted in a major commitment from participating countries to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting services by 2015.
Assistant Minister for Information and Communication, Hon. Koigi wa Wamwere, who led the Kenyan delegation, said that with the new technology it would no longer be necessary for players in the broadcasting sector to invest in expensive infrastructure for transmission. “Investors will only be required to concentrate on content creation and leave the multiplex operators to handle the distribution of the programmes” he went on to say.
In his paper ‘Establishing a Viable Broadcasting Policy for Africa: What are the Stakes and Options?’ Hon. Koigi wa Wamwere, noted that Africa has no option than to digitise radio and TV broadcasting in line with the worlds change to digital technology or perish as a continent. He said that Africans were already starved of information about their own societies, countries, other African countries and the world.
’Our thirst for information is big and it must be quenched quickly’ He went on to say that for the people to have more information more radio and TV stations were required and because the spectrum was already crowded the only way to obtain the additional space required was through digitisation.
Source:Africa.com & Thisdayonline
Item added: 4th September 2006
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Last page update: 14th December 2009, Barry Tew
