Regulator spells out digital migration frequency sharing

By Fredrick Obura

The Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) plans to distribute frequency to telecommunication companies upon the successful migration to digital broadcasting by 2015. Following the ongoing transition from analogue broadcasting to digital, the regulator expect some 100 MHZ band to be freed.

The acting CCK Director-General, Francis Wangusi said they also plan to issue released frequency to the government to launch its services through Internet in the 47 counties.

“We have set an elaborate plan to share freed frequency after the migration with the telecommunication companies,” said Wangusi.

“The excess frequency will enable the  industry to roll out faster Internet to satisfy growing needs of consumers who have turned to Internet for various purpose,” he said.

Wangusi said the initiative would now make it possible for companies such as Safaricom who have shown interest in launching fourth generation Internet to move with speed. He was peaking at a three day workshop on digital migration in Nairobi.

Safaricom, Orange and Airtel currently operate the third generation Internet an equally high speed Internet but have shown Interest in advancing to a much faster Internet technology.

Safaricom has demanded TV broadcasters surrender frequencies allocated to them to mobile operators to allow them and other providers to distribute Internet efficiently and cheaply.