ITU extends digital migration timetable for 34 countries

The International Telecommunication Union has extended the digital broadcast migration deadline for 34 countries because of challenges involving the technology, standards, licensing and investment in the necessary infrastructure and the need for people to replace their televisions.

The global digital switch over is in 2015, but the ITU extended the deadline by five years to 2020 for 30 countries in Africa and four in the Middle East.

"The countries will be facing a variety of challenges -- from the regulators to operators who will have to replace their equipment to viewers who will have to invest in set-top boxes. Some countries feel they will not be ready by 2015," said Chali Tumelo, a senior advisor at the ITU.

Among the 30 countries in Africa that have asked for extension, North African countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco stand out, given their advanced technological investments compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which form the bulk of the requests.

Tumelo, who was presenting at the Africa Union ICT panel this week, said that the ITU is working to help African countries with a smooth transition through developing guidelines and training.

"At the end of the transition period, countries may continue to operate analog broadcasting stations provided that these stations do not cause unacceptable interference," she added.

Asked whether the extension would cause some countries to relax their testing and migration efforts, Tumelo said that the policies had been agreed upon and there is no reason for a country to flout the rules.