[kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF

[Walubengo J]

Just got two interesting alternative views on the above at the ongoing Kenya IGF.

1.  the Chair of the Parliamentary Group, Eng. Rege feels that giving out the National Digital Signal Distribution network to a foreigner exposes the nation to potential sabotage.  What would happen if the Chinese decided to switch of the distribution when "the 2012 votes are being counted?" 

2. the PS, Dr. Ndemo feels that that may really not arise for two reasons,(1) that there will be competition in that market, we shall have multiple national signal distributors and (2) Most of this signal distribution platforms will be over the Internet Cloud and hence the idea of switching off the channel may not be that simple (though it did happen in Egypt ;-)

the debate continues...
walu.

--- On Fri, 7/22/11, Wamuyu Gatheru <wamuyu at soko-id.co.ke> wrote:

From: Wamuyu Gatheru <wamuyu at soko-id.co.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row
To: jwalu at yahoo.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Friday, July 22, 2011, 10:31 AM

I think arguing only the merits of the bids in the context of telcoms (a strategic/security issue) will only provide half the answers. The country is in political transition and headed into another election where the jury on peace is still out. In the last few weeks, I have noticed political bias starting to appear in TV coverage depending on the political affiliations of the owners. The media may forget itself again in the heat of the election competition and I would not be suprised if someone in govt. wants the power to switch stations off - the Chinese can do this but local media houses would find this unacceptable.

Hopefully, if media demonstrate maturity next year, govt. may cease to be concerned about who controls the signals.

Its not a nice picture for media freedoms or harnessing local capacity for that matter. But there may hard realities the govt. may need to be ready to deal with.

On the other hand, I may be entirely wrong and it may well be that the Chinese bribe was the biggest!..(another of our hard realities)

Wamuyu


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