Africa unlikely to beat 2015 digital migration deadlineBy NICHOLAS KALUNGI | Wednesday, October 17  2012 at  11:26

Some African countries risk being switched-off for failure to shift from analogue to digital broadcasting by 2015.

According to the Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association (SADIBA), such countries could lose reliable mobile service receptions.

Speaking at the Digital Dialogue conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sadiba participants noted that African countries were behind the migration schedule and thus will not beat the global June 17 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

“Certainly, Africa is not making it. We will not beat the 2015 digital migration deadline,” Mr Koenie Schutte, the SADIBA treasury said.

He added: “Failure to migrate will have effects on economies across Africa.”

Transformation

On her part, Ms Beth Thoren, the Digital UK director of communication, said Africa’s digital migration will only be possible if there are required finances, communication and education. “Minus the funds, the success of digital migration will base on proper communication and education that involves all stakeholders,” Ms Thoren said.

In 2006, ITU members agreed to implement digital migration in their home countries as a way of reducing the congestion on the limited spectrum. June 17, 2015 was set as the digital migration deadline after which analogue signals would seize to work.

The ITU plans to hand over the free spectrum space after migration to mobile operators who need it to improve their networks thus a delay in implementing digital migration could prolong the poor mobile networks on the continent.