From BETNIKO  KAYAYA –

in Beijing, CHINA
THE Fifth African Digital Television Development conference is underway in Beijing, China.
Countries world-over, Zambia included, are preparing to switch over from analogue to digital television broadcasting on June 17, 2015.
The switch is as prescribed by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The conference which is being hosted by StarTimes, one of China’s leading players in digital technology, has brought together high profile delegates from 29 countries in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.
They include government officials, experts in the broadcasting industry, heads of financial institutions, media representatives and other international broadcasting content suppliers.
Zambia is represented at the five-day conference by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili whose delegation includes his Permanent Secretary Godfrey Malama, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) board chairperson, Dr John Mulwila and ZNBC Director-General Richard Mwanza.
Mr Kambwili said the conference provided a fertile opportunity for the exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise as Africa and the rest of the world prepare to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting technology.
He told the gathering that the Zambian Government was implementing the digital migration programme in three phases starting with urban areas along the line of rail to be followed by provincial centres and finally the rest of the country.
He said phase one of Zambia’s digital migration has since been completed and would be switched from analogue to digital broadcasting on June 17, 2015.
“Zambia is therefore keen to learn from China and other countries’ experience and expertise in moving our digital migration process forward. We also see this meeting as crucially important in bridging technology transfer from China to Africa,” Mr Kambwili said.
Mr Kambwili also spoke highly of the long-standing relations between Zambia and China in many sectors of development.
The minister said China’s policy of cooperation with other countries rather than coercion had generated favourable conditions for the continued growth of its relations with Africa.
“Zambia, like other African countries, cherishes the excellent and long-standing relations with the People’s Republic of China.
“The two countries have, and continue to cooperate in many sectors of development which include health, education, infrastructure development, sport, information and technology,” he said.