Digital broadcasting: Six firms pre-qualified for Broadcast Signal Distribution tender

By James Ratemo

Kenya’s journey to digital broadcasting is in high gear as Government finalizes award of tender to two more signal distributors before end of June this year.

Six firms have been cleared to battle out for two additional Broadcast Signal Distribution (BSD) licences through a competitive tender process.†

The licensing of two additional signal distributors is aimed at introducing competition in the broadcasting signal distribution market segment and fast-tracking the transition from analogue to digital TV broadcasting.†

Kenya currently has one digital broadcast signal distributor, SIGNET, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

Kenya’s media owners have been at logger, heads with Signet and Government, citing illegal assignment to a third party, of rights to distribute digital signals without a proper tendering system.

The six firms are that will battle it out include a Consortia between Nation Media Group and Royal Media Services, Signal Distributors Ltd, Mayfox Ltd and Globecast Africa. Others include Pan African Network Group and Africa Link Agencies.

Kenya intends to fully shift from analogue to digital platform before end of 2012 ahed of the global deadline of June 2015.

ICT sector regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya, advertised the international tender for broadcasting signal distribution in February 16.†

Six firms were subsequently prequalified to participate in the second and final stage of the tender.†

The prequalified firms are expected to submit their final bids (both technical and financial) to CCK by May 25, after which evaluation of tenders shall commence on May 26.†

The two winners of the BSD tender shall be announced on June 24, and the licensing process concluded in August 2011.

CCK on Wednesday held a pre-bid conference at its offices in Nairobi to brief the pre-qualified firms on its expectations on the tender, and to answer any questions relating to the BSD tender and licence.†

Speaking at the opening the pre-bid conference, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Dr. Bitange Ndemo said successful bidders are expected to rollout digital broadcasting signal distribution infrastructure within the shortest time possible to ensure all Kenyans have access to the digital TV signal.†

"I would like to bring to your attention that as a country, we are working towards a mutually agreed East African deadline of 2012 to fully migrate television broadcasting to the digital platform," added Dr. Ndemo.†

In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Secretary in the Information and Communications Ministry, Mr. Henry Mungasia, the Information and Communications Permanent Secretary expressed confidence in CCK, saying the regulator had consistently demonstrated professionalism in administering similar beauty contests for major network licences.

CCK Director-General Mr. Charles J.K. Njoroge assured bidders that the BSD tender process shall be done above board.† Mr. Njoroge said the licence period for the BSD licence is 15 years renewable for a further 10 years.†