February 12th, 2014

African broadcasting stakeholders meet at CTO’s ninth regional forum on digital broadcasting switchover

Professor Tim Unwin Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) urges broadcasting policymakers in the region to ensure that the most marginalised – those living in isolated rural areas, people with disabilities, the elderly, and less affluent groups – are included in their switchover plans for digital broadcasting.

ARUSHA, 12 FEBRUARY 2014 – African broadcasting policymakers and industry leaders are meeting for three days in Arusha, Tanzania for the CTO’s 9th Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum Africa to discuss the region’s migration plans to digital terrestrial broadcasting as the June 2015 deadline draws closer.

Organised this year by the CTO in collaboration with the Government of United Republic of Tanzania (through its Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority), the Forum is taking place on 11 – 13 February 2014 on the theme of “Achieving Africa’s Digital Migration”.

Attended by some 200 delegates from 26 countries, the event was officially opened by the Honourable Dr Fenella Mukangara, Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports who emphasized the importance of local content production.

In his opening address, Professor Unwin, Secretary-General of the CTO invited delegates to ensure that the transition to DTT is as inclusive as possible, warning that “the most difficult thing to get right is how to ensure that everyone, and particularly the elderly, the spatially marginalised and those with disabilities, can really benefit from digital switchover.”

“I hope that you will all use this opportunity to learn and share – and having participated actively in this Forum will return home, commit to doing something different, and above all ensure that all of our citizens can benefit from digital broadcasting.” Professor Unwin added.

The Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum Africa is an annual event launched by the CTO in 2005 in South Africa. It provides a platform for knowledge and experience sharing on digital broadcasting switchover for the region.