[kictanet] Digital migration and mass ignorance

[bitange at jambo.co.ke]

Listers,
Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has gone to court to stop the planned
Digital Switchover in Nairobi at the end of this month.  This is most
unfortunate considering the fact that the current analogue broadcast has
been the most discriminating.  Majority of Kenyans have not seen the level
of communication that Digital offers (this is what the constitution
demands).  In the new platform we have seen more vernacular channels
delivering news in a language that people understand and relate to.  It
therefore surprises me when an organization such as COFEK moves to court
to protect an elitist broadcast platform.

Further every one new channel creates more than thirty new jobs.  There
are more than one hundred and fifty new applications awaiting clearance to
start digital broadcast.  Twenty of these are already on air.  If we get
two hundred new broadcasters, we shall have achieved our quest for having
a pluralistic and diversified broadcast environment.  In whose interest is
COFEK advancing the agenda of maintaining monopolistic practices in Kenyan
Media? Does COFEK really understands the seriousness of unemployment in
Kenya?

The cost of not migrating is far too great than biting the bullet now and
enable frequency spectrum to be used in more productive and inclusive
manner.  The benefits of mobile operators moving from 2G to 3G are
glaring.  We need to scale up to 4G and create a robust last mile that
will reduce the rural urban digital divide; that will create an enabling
playing field when we start delivering new local content to schools
country-wide.

Most of the world has migrated and they fully understand why we need to
free up spectrum. EAC member states agreed on the December 31st deadline
and Tanzania for example has committed itself to this agreed deadline
despite not having a completed the national roll-out of the digital
signal. In Kenya we have adopted a phased plan starting from Nairobi.
Technology changes every six months and Kenya must remain at the
technological edge in order to remain the true hub of Africa.  We seem to
be exercising freedom without any responsibility.

Ndemo.


> Hi,
>
> This is where we are going wrong, the digital migration has nothing to do
> with digital TV sets its about how the signal will be transmitted, please
> try and see the bigger picture here.
>
>
> When we moved from analogue internet connectivity where you needed a modem
> to the digital transmission where you needed a DTU/ADSL/Dongle why didn't
> you please with the government to stop the importation of Pentium
> processor based computers or 14" monitors or AT keyboards so that users
> could transition?  If you remember the ISPs never even gave us a
> transition period and some never even implemented analogue connectivity. 
>
>
> This is the same case with the digital TV migration, you do not need a
> digital TV to benefit from the new method of transmission all that you are
> changing is the equivalent of your analogue modem with a digital receiver
> and nothing more, also remember that this transition is a world wide
> project and it would be foolhardy to try and stop the oncoming train. 
>
>
> As Kenyans, we have proven time and time again that we are resilient and
> innovative, we turned off "fake" phones and on the following day they
> where getting reactivated thanks to the power of google, turn off the
> analogue signal tomorrow and we shall have 500/- decoders available for
> sale along the streets of Nairobi, keep postponing the switchoff and there
> will be no meaning uptake of the digital devices, have you registered for
> election yet?
>
>
> All this noise from the entrenched media houses that we are propagating
> has nothing to do with if Kenyans with black and white TVs can afford to
> buy the decoder but more on trying to delay the shift of broadcasting
> power to a more open platform, so before you come to the defense of Linus
> and his ilk find out whose agenda you are promoting, instead of coming
> forward and responding to the discussion going on here of which I am sure
> they are listening, they send mercenaries .
>
> Dr. Ndemo, I again say kudos and tell you keep the course and do what is
> right for the Nation and avoid being distracted by those with selfish
> agendas, deliver on this and Konza has a better chance of seeing the light
> of day.
>
> Regards
>
>  
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: meshack emakunat <memakunat at yahoo.com>
> To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
> Cc: Meshack <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Wednesday, 5 December 2012, 16:48
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital migration and mass ignorance
>
>
> Dear list
> I read this thread and all i see is the "the cart before the horse". I
> believe Mr gitahi was referring to affordability rather compatibility and
> adaptability. @Robert, don't you think Kenyans should be given enough time
> to migrate rather than have a paradigm shift in tech use. I think that we
> should ban the importation of analog TV as somebody suggested earlier then
> will have a gradual change till 2015
> Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
> development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.