Zambia to study Ghana’s digital migration process

A Zambia delegation is in Ghana to study the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service migration process.

The delegation, led by Mr Mwansa Kapeya, Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services of Zambia, visited the Ministry of Communications, National Film and Television Institute, National Media Commission and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr Kapeya told journalists on Thursday in Accra that although Zambia had logistical challenges in its quest to migrate by December 2013, it had learnt from Ghana that determination and involvement of key stakeholders were essential to complete the process.

“Determination and considerable effort from stakeholders, particularly Public private partnership will help us a lot,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said Zambia had taken the right decision to visit Ghana at the right time to appreciate the digital migration process, adding “Ghana has offloaded all necessary information, and that is fantastic…Indeed the gesture shows that African culture is the same”.

African governments have approved a continental digital television switchover that would be complete by 2015.

He expressed optimism that Zambia would meet the international deadline of 2015.

The digital migration will result in all existing analogue television signals allowing for enhanced viewing pleasure for all.

Mr Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, Managing Director of GOtv, said the company had broken the myth of migration.

He said though a lot of resources had been injected into it, the market is good saying “the other media organisations can learn from us”.

Mr Sunkwa-Mills explained that the benefits of DTT service is far reaching, including improved television service, “clear sound and pictures”.

Africa is a part of the digital revolution that will bring with it more choice and more value to television viewers.

Analogue will eventually be switched off, in which case all African households will need to switch to digital in order to watch TV.

Source: GNA