In 2006, a global project to migrate from analogue TV to digital TV was initiated during a telecommunications conference in Geneva. A deadline of June 2015 was set by which all broadcasters are expected to have migrated to the digital platform. Kenya has since followed suit in the global trends and has become the third country to commence her migration to digital TV in Africa. On 9th December, 2009, the President launched digital TV in Kenya during an inauguration ceremony at the Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation (KBC) transmitting station. Since then, the technology has not been wholly availed to the public domain, but has been undergoing tests and modifications. The technology is being operated by Signet, a subsidiary of the Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), specifically set up to broadcast and distribute the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) signals.
The digital TV coverage is expected to gradually spread to the rest of the country to pave way to the complete migration by the year 2012. The complete switch to digital broadcasting is expected to cost Sh6 billion (USD 80 million) and an initial Sh152 million (USD 2 million) has already been allocated. Broadcasters will be required to sign transmission contracts with Signet upon licensing by the CCK. Signet will carry private broadcasters signals free of charge, but will charge for its services after 2012. This means that broadcasters will concentrate on content development as opposed to incurring costs on none core business issues such as building and maintaining infrastructure.
The Media Owners Association (MOA) has, however, expressed its reservations towards Signet running the entire digital TV network. In fact, it is said that all of Kenya's free-to-air television broadcasters will form a joint company to obtain a license to broadcast digital signals across the country. The move is expected to end the stand-off between the Information Ministry and broadcasters such as Nation Media Group (NTV) and Royal Media Services (Citizen TV), who had protested when the second digital broadcasting license was given to China's Pan African Network Group. There are more than twenty television firms currently broadcasting in various parts of Kenya.
The migration from analog to digital TV signal has not only been slowed down by the tests and modifications, but also by the impromptu ban of Digital Video Broadcasting- Terrestrial (DVB-T1) set-top boxes and shifting focus to Digital Video Broadcasting- Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2) in February, 2011 by the government. DVB-T2 has better picture and sound quality, more channels on the same frequency, larger coverage per transmitting station, flexibility in handling both high definition and standard definition channels and better security features to prevent unauthorized access. Access at digital TV will require Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVBT) enabled TV set or an MPEG-4 digital converter.
Around Nairobi, the signal can be received in Ngong, Kajiado, parts of Machakos, Kiambu, Thika, parts of Muranga, and some parts of Embu. The Government announced that by July 2012, the DVB T2 digital TV signal would be available in 70% of the country. Briefing the stakeholders on the status of the migration process, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Dr. Bitange Ndemo said the Government was committed to ensuring that all Kenyans have access to digital TV services. The Permanent Secretary called on the private sector to import DVB T2 compliant set top boxes for sale in the country to facilitate access to digital TV services by the public.
As of late 2009, 10 countries had completed the process of turning off analog terrestrial broadcasting. Many other countries had plans to do so or were in the process of a staged conversion. The first country to make a wholesale switch to digital over-the-air (terrestrial) broadcasting was Luxembourg, in 2006, followed by the Netherlands later in 2006, Finland, Andorra, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland in 2007, Belgium (Flanders) and Germany in 2008, and the United States, Denmark and South Africa in 2009.
