CMR'nians want digital switchover deadline postponed

After admitting that the government is not well prepared to handle digital broadcast, Cameroon has joined its voice to that of other African countries who are members of the African Union of Broadcasters in demanding that the deadline set for the digital switch-over from analogue to digital of audiovisual broadcast slated for next 17th June 2015 be postponed.

The request was made last October 22 during a press conference at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel granted by Cameroon Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary who doubles as Vice President of Cameroon Digital Television (CAM-DTV) Steering Committee.

He stressed that the idea seeking for possible postponement emanated from “Member countries of the African Broadcasting Union meeting in Yaoundé within the framework of their General Assembly decided to apply to the International Telecommunication Union for a postponement of the June 17, 2015 deadline.

In Cameroon just like in other African countries, it is imperative to note that two factors are responsible for the delay notably, the socio-economic configuration and cultural dimension of this migration. It is not therefore the technological factor that is predominant.”

Minister Tchiroma used the occasion to officially launch a vast nationwide campaign geared towards the sensitization of both producers and consumers of TV products on the stakes and challenges of the migration from analogue broadcast to digital as from next year.

Placed under the distinguished patronage of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, this campaign will run till November 10 nationwide with the committee experts moving to all the regions to sensitize the public.

During the press conference, the Minister emphasised on the evolution Cameroon has made in its efforts to meet up with the challenge of the digital switchover.

“In 2009, there was the creation of the committee charged with the elaboration of a national strategy for the digital switchover transformed into CAM-DTV in 2012 with the adoption of a strategic paper for the digital switchover.

Explaining the advantages of the digital broadcasting system, he said it has a high programme storage capacity and the fact that with digital, many channels can use one frequency.

It was in 2006 that the International Union of Telecommunications set aside 17 June 2015 at midnight as deadline for the digital switchover audiovisual broadcast.