Kenya grants new DTT channels
August 17, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Kenya’s Communication Authority (CAK) has confirmed 7 new, free digital terrestrial broadcast licences for its citizens.
The licences go to Zanira Company, Akili Network, The World Music, Namba One TV, Seventh Day Adventist-East Kenya Union Conference, The Entertainment Channel and North Eastern Media & Telecommunications.
However, there are a further 72 applications pending for commercial FTA channels.
“By getting licensed, a commercial FTA TV will provide clear, unencrypted digital TV Signals, enabling any person with the appropriate equipment to receive the signal,” explained Communications Authority of Kenya’s Director General Francis Wangusi during award of the licenses.
According to the CAK, close to 2.5million STBVs have been sold so far matching, it is claimed locally – the initial levels achieved prior to the migration. “We are witnessing signal distributors expanding their services into areas that had no analogue televisions before. We therefore expect more growth,” he said.