Meru and its environs will from May receive 24-hour StarTimes transmission after Kenya Power acquired rights to erect poles to supply electricity to the Pan-Africa Network site, HumanIPO has learnt.
The lack of connection to the grid had forced the signal distributor to run on generator, meaning signal had to be switched off at midnight and only reinstated at 6am, prompting complaints from users.
According to sources it had been hard to connect the site to the grid after Kenya Power was unable to lay electric poles on private property enroute to the site, with many residents unwilling to sign way leaves until proper compensation was settled.
Following the intervention of local leaders and Pan-Africa Network, the residents have allowed the power distributor to go ahead with the erection of necessary infrastructure.
An email to Pan-Africa Network from the power distributor – seen by HumanIPO – confirms 24-hour transmission should be a reality by May.
“We are committed to finalising the supply by next week,” the email read.
The issue was first highlighted by HumanIPO after users in the region complained they were not receiving 24-hour transmission, eliciting warnings from the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) who blamed the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) for sleeping on the job and threatened litigation.
HumanIPO can further confirm StarTimes customers in Nanyuki will receive stronger signals following a planned upgrade in the area, according to business development manager at Pan-Africa Networks Kamal Sohrab.
“We are not going to be putting in place a new site but we will put in place boosters that will act as gap filters in shadow areas,” he said.
Nanyuki relies on the Nyeri site for its signal but could also see better reception once another planned site in Nyahururu comes into place, with a single site able to transmit at ranges of 60 to 120 kilometres depending on the terrain.
Just yesterday the digital signal distributor announced it would be establishing 13 new sites across Kenya as it seeks to reach 90 per cent of the population by end of the year, at a cost of KSh8 billion (approx US$95.2 million).
