Zimbabwe: TopStar move to Eastern Province
By Alfred Tembo – Barely three weeks away from analogue switch off deadline, TopStar has managed to integrate better part of Eastern Province, into the global oriented program.
Zambia, is changing the Terrestrial TV Broadcasting platform from Analog to Digital, in conformity with the provisions of the Geneva 2006 (GE06) Digital TV Broadcasting plan. This is in line with a plan to transform the old Analogue TV Plan (174-230MHz and 470-862MHz) and encompassing Europe, Arab States and Africa under a campaign dubbed “digital migration.”
The change is aimed at addressing rising demand for terrestrial TV Broadcasting. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Service, up to eight TV programmes can be transmitted on a spectrum or frequency space of a single analogue programme.
Because of increased capacity, some spectrum will be freed-up for use by the broadband wireless access services, opening opportunities for more players in mobile service.
Digital transmission delivers superior quality with value added services such as tele-text, online programming guides as well as e-Governance and E-Commerce.
Speaking, in an interview on in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, TopStar head of public relations, Mwazi Chanda says her company is excited by the development which has seen more districts incorporated in readiness of a digital life.
Chanda said, “Top Star is excited to announce that we are spelling out to other province with new sites comprising of Katete, Sinda, Lundazi, Mambwe, Chama, Chadiza undergoing test as we speak.
“Bigger Town such as a Chipata need a more powerful transmitter to cover the whole area,” adding that, “We are in the process of constructing one.”
TopStar is making great strides, with new dealer sites having had been opened
She further explained that, “Sales of decoder has begun in Katete, as a company we are impressed with the turnout and people are now able to enjoy digital life.”
According to TopStar, the development is expected to creating great opportunities for the provision of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) applications and multimedia services, for the country.
And regulators are liable to perform their respective functions in line with their statutory functions as provided for in their constituent Acts. In particular, IBA shall regulate content and Content Service Providers, ZICTA shall regulate Signal Distributors and frequencies and ZEMA shall be responsible for environment control issues and also appreciate safe disposal of electronic waste.
Zambia now readies to embrace a transition from analogue to digitalisation, with October 1 set as the day for the exercise.
