Kenya plans ban on importation of analogue TV sets by June

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The move effectively paves way for digital television sets as the country fast tracks the migration of its TV programming from the current analogue to digital by the end of 2015 — a time frame set by the International Telecommunication Union.

“We are talking with Treasury to ban importation of the analogue television sets in three to four months time, said Communication PS, Bitange Ndemo.

“This will help us break some challenges we are currently facing in the migration process,” Ndemo said.

Ndemo said the test on transition in Nairobi and its environs faces hurdles, which can only be unlocked through acquisition of digital sets.

“Our test of the digital transmission in Nairobi and it’s surrounding has not been smooth because most people have not updated their television sets. This makes it hard for my team to move with time.”

To fast track the transition, Ndemo said Ministry of Information was in talks with Treasury to remove levies on set-top boxes.

“This would allow many with analogue televisions to easily access programmes broadcast on digital platform,” he said.

Currently, the set-top boxes retail at about Sh5,000 — almost the same price as a TV set — making it hard for many households to afford.

“We are in talks with Treasury to remove taxes charged on set-top boxes so that the price of set-top boxes comes down and expand penetration of digital TVs,” Ndemo said.

Kenya plans to spend Sh3 billion to roll-out digital signal across the country to meet a self-imposed deadline to switch off analogue signals by June 2012 — three years earlier than the world wide deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union, which requires all countries to move to digital by 2015.

In the first phase, those residing in Nairobi and its environs will be able to enjoy better clarity of sound and video with high resolutions.

While launching LG Service Centre in Nairobi, the first of its kind in Kenya, Ndemo said a new platform targeting Kisumu, and Mombasa cities would be rolled out by next week.

The centre is aimed at bolstering LG’s after-sales-service engagement with customers. The state-of-the-art service centre located at Piedmont Plaza along the busy Ngong Road in Nairobi has been put up at cost of over Sh35 million.

According to LG President for Middle East and Africa, Mr James Park, the establishment of the centre is in line with the company’s commitment to ease access to quality and guaranteed after-sales-service for their products in Kenya.

The service centre will compliment other customer care initiatives already put in place by LG. These include the care centres at various outlets and the Care and Delight Bus, a mobile customer care services whose truck goes around the country with customers being notified in advance.

By FREDRICK OBURA, The Standard

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