Transition to digital television: Yaoundé and Douala in July

The rest of the country will follow according to the point made by the Mincom on Friday in Douala.

The demonstration could have been better, observed the Minister of Communication; Issa Bakary Tchiroma when he visited the centre for the dissemination of digital TV signals by CAMTEL in Akwa-Douala on Friday.

However, he announced that Cameroon will be the sixth African country in July to shift to the digital world. Douala and Yaounde will open the first channels and gradually the rest of the country will follow the technological revolution which will last for two years.

To take account of the particularity of the Cameroonian media landscape, public television stations will provide its productions in analogue and digital. However, said the Mincom, "the earlier we digitize, the earlier we get profit." T

he current evolution will offer new opportunities to this already dynamic sector according to the expertise highlighted by the boss of the sector, assisted by technical officers of his ministry and CAMTEL, responsible for transporting fiber optic digital images.

Cameroon has opted for an initial selection of 30 television channels which will broadcast in digital. Minister Tchiroma warned beneficiary operators to change to the improved quality of the images and the number of channels offered by the new method of distribution and are obliged to fulfill the showing of at least 70% of productions made in Cameroon, the remainder may come from abroad .

To those who cannot keep the pace, he advised a combination of forces to dock with technological modernity.

To households and other consumers of television, Issa Bakary Tchiroma assured them that there is no fear of exorbitant expenses for acquiring a digital decoder if any. As instructed by the head of state, the device price should be around FCFA 6000.