Digital broadcasting on track—Govt

Malawi government says there is good progress on the implementation of the first ever global migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, saying there has been a positive response from content providers raising hopes that the country will achieve the given global deadline of June 17 2015.

Digital migration is an outcome of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Regional Radio Communications Conference agreement held in 2006 to facilitate the migration of broadcasting services from analogue to digital.

Principal Secretary in the ministry of Information Chimwemwe Banda told The Nation that there is a good development towards the project saying so far 15 000 set top boxes have been purchased and a good number of television stations have submitted their signals to the network.

“We are doing all it takes to ensure that our country is ready and meet the June 2015 migration deadline. On the other hand, it is encouraging to see that about 8 of the country’s television stations have submitted signals,” she said adding that more set top boxes are expected to jet in the country by the end of the week.

She said government is currently identifying potential companies to be distributors of the set top boxes and has deliberately set a company to over look into issues to do with the migration.

“We are looking for companies which have outlets across the country to ensure that every Malawian has access to the equipment. So far we have identified like Malawi post office as our distributor. We have also set a company named Malawi Digital Broadcasting Network specifically designed to manage the development and operations of digital migration,” she said.

Banda has assured the nation that the set top boxes will be priced at a cost accessible to an average Malawian to ensure that every Malawian purchases the equipment.

Digital migration will enable clear pictures and great sound to viewers as well as present them with opportunity to have a variety of channels for their viewing pleasure.

Some of the television stations that have submitted their signal to the network include Malawi broadcasting corporation, Luso, Timveni, Good news broadcasting, Times, Calvary, Luntha and Zodiak.