adminBROADCASTING signal carrier Transmedia yesterday received equipment worth US$3 million dollars from Chinese ICT giant Huawei as the country moves with speed to beat the June 17 digitalisation deadline.
The equipment includes antenna systems and transmitters to be installed at six new transmission sites situated mostly in the country’s border towns and is part of the deal entered by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) and Huawei.
The Chinese firm is overseeing system integration, providing and installing equipment for the digitalisation programme.
Transmedia chief executive Ms Florence Sigudu Matambo said 30 transmission sites will be upgraded from analogue to digital.
“Our engineers are already on the ground and the installation process will begin anytime. However, let me emphasise that the digitalisation process started way back in 2011,” she said.
Ms Sigudu Matambo allayed fears that the country will not beat the June 17 International Telecommunications Union’s deadline to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.
“Let me reiterate that digitalisation is a process, not an event and what is only going to happen on June 17 is to check whether the country is compliant with the ITU regulations of non-interference with other country’s transmission signals. Definitely, the country will meet the deadline,” she explained.
The Transmedia boss also pointed out that the country will run both the analogue and the digital platforms even after June 17 to allow a systematic migration.
On top of the already existing 24 transmission platforms, 24 new ones have already been added.
Online Reporter