Nairobi switches to digital television

29 Aug, 2013

Nairobi is set to make the switch from analogue television to digital on 13 December. The move is being taken in line with the global resolution passed by the Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union (ITU) which requires all member states to migrate to digital by 17 June 2015.

Following the digital switch-over in Nairobi, other Kenyan town such as Mombasa, Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kisii, Nakuru and Eldoret will make the digital leap on 30 March next year, followed by the rest of the country in June.

To avail of the new service, television owners in Nairobi must purchase set-top decoders, of which 26 different brands have been approved for sale by the Kenyan government. Kenya started the process of phasing out analogue in favour of digital in 2009, with the switch over originally planned for completion in 2012.