Africa has fulfilled its part of the bargain by completing the digital migration process more than two years ahead of the internationally agreed deadline.
In 2006 a host of countries, including the entire African continent, signed up to the Geneva agreement which stipulated all broadcasting signal should be migrated from analogue to digital by June 17, 2015.
Until this momentous day’s announcement, made by the African Digital Migration Consultancy Board (ADMCB), in Africa only Mauritius, an island nation with a population of 1.3 million people, had completed the switchover and scepticism remained as to whether many countries on the continent would be able to follow suit in time.
Sloof Lirpa, ADMCB chairman, in an unexpected statement this morning, said: “Behind all the negative publicity of unavailable and unaffordable set top boxes and claims governments were only paying lip service to their digital migration efforts, the ADMCB has been working tirelessly to ensure we delivered an entirely digital Africa.
“Citizens across the continent shall be receiving their set top boxes within days so they can begin enjoying the benefits of digital television. We have not only surprised Africa, but the world with this achievement.”
Details still remained unclear as to how the sudden migration was able to take place, but early tests by analysts suggest there are indeed only digital signals being broadcast across the continent.
One analyst told HumanIPO: “It is quite incredible. It’s almost as if they have plucked digital migration from thin air. I’m not sure what all the fuss has been about.”
