– Digital terrestrial television broadcasting inevitable – Njeulu

Digital terrestrial television broadcasting inevitable – Njeulu

Livingstone, August 15, 2014,  ZANIS—— Government  says migrating from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting is inevitable for the country.

Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Poniso Njeulu says the digital migration was vital for the country to meet the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s deadline.

Mr. Njeulu says the ITU had set June 17, 2015 as the deadline for countries to switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting.

Early this year, Cabinet approved the Policy on Digital Migration in readiness to meet the deadline.

The deputy minister said that switching from analogue to digital had numerous advantages such as free access to information, greater citizen participation and increased job opportunities which is one of the priorities of government.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Njeulu said this in Livingstone today during the Digital Migration Stakeholders Sensitization Meeting at Maramba Cultural Village.

He said government through his ministry remained committed to the migration process and funding the project.

“Government remains committed to the migration process and is funding the project.

And with the approval of the policy, government through my ministry, will now scale up public sensitization about digital migration,” he said.

He noted that it was an obligation of government and all stakeholders to explain the process of migration for all citizens to be aware of what was happening in the country and across the world.

Mr. Njeulu said while undertaking public sensitization meetings on the migration, government would take on board the concerns and views of the general public and media houses that play a key role in offering broadcasting services.

“We hope that through these interactions, Zambians will be made aware of what migration is all about, why it is necessary and what we all need to do,” he said.

And Information Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala said he was happy with the turn out councilors at the meeting and was hopeful they would disseminate the information of digital migration to the people they represented.

Mr. Njeulu who is schedule to address similar meetings in Sesheke, Western Province is accompanied by Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala, Chief Planner Catherine Lishomwa, Principal Planner Ruth Mulenga, Independent Broadcasting Authority Director General Josephine Mapoma and Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) Director Patrick Lungu, among others.