By Mustapha Sesay
The minority leader in parliament, Bernadette Lahai, has expressed concern over the progress of digital migration in Sierra Leone.
June 2015 is the deadline for a global switch from analogue to digital broadcasting set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Every country is expected to have met certain criteria in time for that. Most developed countries have since switched over and in Africa very few have. Sierra Leone is one of them.
The SLPP parliamentarian demanded at the House of Representatives recently for update on how far the country had gone in its preparation. This was at a parliamentary session that saw the approval of nine presidential nominees to various positions, including the board of trusties of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
The migration to digital television broadcasting is a governmental initiative resulting from a decision made at the Regional Radio Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2006 and which decision required countries that were in that Conference to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting technology by 17th June 2015.
When completed, digital broadcasting ensures better sound and enhanced picture quality, capacity for more and improved TV and radio channels, wider geographical coverage, and improved security features.
Dr Lahai pointed out that Kenya, South Africa and Ghana, among other African countries, were making progress in their digital migration journey while Sierra Leone was yet to show any progress in terms of the relevant infrastructure needed.
She wanted to know specifically what mechanisms had been put in place by the government.
It would be very much important for the country to go through the process as it would help the only public broadcaster – SLBC - to give quality and efficient services to its viewing public, and also meet a wide range of communicational needs in the country, she said.
© Politico 12/03/15
