The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has proceeded to allow 30 African countries to extend their digital migration beyond the original global deadline – which has been set for June 2015. According to a report by the Daily Nation, there are a number countries that have been given an extension, including: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Sudan.
According to the Daily Nation, this essentially contradicts an argument by Francis Wangusi, director-general of the Communications Authority (CA), that Kenya must migrate by June 2015 or it would attract sanctions.
Wangusi stated that Kenya had made a commitment to adhere to the ITU deadline. Millions of Kenyans have not been able to access information through their TV sets for more than a week since the government shut down analogue broadcasts on 14 February.
Wangusi maintains that Kenya will not seek an extension because Africa belongs to Region One, which is slated for migration in 2015. To add to this, Wangusi revealed that the CA is expected to penalise the African Digital Network, after its members went off air on 14 February, 2015.
Darryl Linington
This is the propaganda that is being pursued by those opposing digital migration.