The digital switchover in Kenya has left more than 1.3 million Kenyan households unable to access free terrestrial TV broadcast.
After meeting the June 17 deadline mandated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a Business Daily report states that only 2.2 million Kenyans can now access digital TV broadcasting.
The inability of more than 40% of Kenyans to access digital services was attributed to the poor distribution of set-top boxes, according to the Kenyan Communication Authority (CA).
“The poor distribution of set-top boxes was to blame for the television blackout,” said Francis Wangusi, Director-General CA. “Slightly more than 1.1 million households are yet to buy the set top boxes.”
Though, media houses in Kenya had requested a postponement of the analog switch-off due to the unavailability and affordability of the set-top boxes, the CA had refused to grant the request.
Mr Wagusi stated in the report that approximately 3.2 million set-top boxes have been imported by 79 licensed vendors, indirectly dismissing claims that shortage and high retail prices were the causes for the broadcast blackout.
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