Kenyan regulator agrees new switchover date

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has decided on a compromise date of September 15 this year for the switching off of analogue TV signals in the country, according to local reports.

Kenya plans to implement digital switchover in a series of phases that will see analogue TV disappear initially from the capital Nairobi. Switchover has already been pushed back several times, with the CCK initially setting a date of July 2012 for the move.

At a meeting last week between the regulator and local consumer organization Cofek, the pair agreed to explore ways to bring down the cost of digital-terrestrial reception equipment to make it affordable to Kenyans. Cofek secretary-general Stephen Mutoro said the number of licensed set-top box vendors would likely be increased.