Confusion over ITU “extension” to African DSO
February 23, 2015
By Chris Forrester
The ITU is reported to be permitting 30 African countries to slip past its ‘absolute deadline’ of June 30th this year to switch off analogue TV transmissions. According to Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper, the date extensions apply to some major African nations not least Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
An ITU spokesman, speaking exclusively to Advanced-Television.com, insists that the ITU has not altered its June 30th deadline for analogue switch off of TV signals.
The news emerged during a tough court battle in Kenya and where existing analogue broadcasters are seeking to continue transmissions beyond the June 2015 deadline. Kenya switched off its main analogue transmitter last week on February 14th.
The ITU’s position is that June 30th is the latest date for switching from analogue to all digital transmission.