Kenya's KBC confident it can meet digital migration deadline

Kenyan national broadcaster KBC is ready to ensure the necessary infrastructure for digital migration is in place. MD Waithaka Waihenya said KBC will have four sites up and running in four months and 70-80 percent of the population will be covered by the June 2012 switchover deadline. Waihenya said four sites, including Limuru, Mazeras (Mombasa) Webuye and Nyamebene (Meru), are already being upgraded for the migration. The MD said that the lack of electricity in some parts of the country could deny populations in those areas quality viewership from digital signals. This could undermine the aim of ensuring that all Kenyans have access to information. Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication, said businesses persist in importing expensive equipment, which is denying access to those who can not afford it. Ndemo challenged institutions of higher learning, including the University of Nairobi, to come up with innovations to ensure that the larger population has access to affordable set-top boxes. Ndemo said the government will not back down on the requirement of 40 percent local content, even as media owners have requested a relaxation of the requirement and more time for enforcement.