Cabinet approves new dates for digital migration

The Cabinet has approved new dates for the switch to digital television broadcasting, and a Cabinet sub-committee is set to review the allocation of frequencies. The migration from analogue to digital broadcasting commences on December 30 in Nairobi and January 30, 2015, for the rest of the country, said a statement released last night by the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit.

It said the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology was tasked to commence the digital migration process immediately. "Separately, the Cabinet directed the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology to immediately commence a consultative review of the legislative framework in the communication sector with a view to enforcing prudent, equitable and a pragmatic sharing of the national communication resource," it added. 

It emerged that proposals worked out on Wednesday for allocation of digital frequencies show the Chinese company Pan African Network Group Kenya Limited (PANG) has been allocated the lion's share of channels. And the consortium of three leading local media houses is earmarked to get the least. PANG, a company that is wholly owned by foreigners, has been allocated 120 out of a total of 197 frequencies, which represents 61 per cent of the country digital television broadcasting frequencies. 

KBC and GoTV have been allocated 51 frequencies, representing 26 per cent, and Radio Africa 11, accounting for six per cent. The consortium of Nation Media Group, Standard Group, and Royal Media Services has been allocated only 5 per cent of the frequencies (10). 

The three media houses had moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the award of a Broadcast Signal Distribution ("BSD") licence to PANG and to deny the same to the three local media houses under the consortium National Signal Networks. The Supreme Court ordered CAK to consider the merits of the application for a BSD licence by the three media houses within 90 days from the date of the judgment. 

Yesterday, the Cabinet chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi was briefed on status of migration from analogue to digital television broadcasting in Kenya.

"Cabinet was informed that the country is now ready to undergo digital migration following resolution and agreement on the issues that initially hindered this process," read the statement. The Cabinet noted that Kenya had delayed a lot in the process of migration from analogue to digital television broadcasting.