Ugandans may not be able to watch TV beyond 2012 unless the country manages what has become an uphill task to migrate to digital transmission technology.
This follows admission by the government communications regulator that Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation is not ready to deliver Uganda from analog to digital technology by the set deadline.
Uganda communication Commission’s Executive Director, Godfrey Mutabazi, Told the Parlaimentary committee on Information, Communications and Technology that although UBC was selected by Cabinet to be the sole digital provider in Uganda, the Corporation does not have money to fund the migration.
Mutabazi also said they can no longer issue analog broadcast licenses because of the migration deadline and that that UBC’s failure to beat the deadline is bound to leave Uganda in a technological black out as the rest of the world goes digital in 2015/ He said they are considering changing the current policy of UBC being the sole digital provider.
“Wwe cannot go ahead with digital planning because UBC has failed to provide the platform. In East Africa, Uganda is the only country lagging behind schedule,” Mutabazi said.
He asked Parliament to consider breaking the UBC monopoly created by cabinet so that interested parties can get rights to provide digital signals for the good of the industry.
“We should get another provider so that if UBC breaks down, the country can have an alternative provider. The problem started when Cabinet narrowed on only UBC and UBC now is not ready to beat the deadline. Digital migration is very complicated. You cannot just wake up and do it,” Mutabaazi said.
Last month, private broadcast operators opposed the idea of UBC being the sole digital provider saying that it is against the doctrines of a liberal economy.
In the same month, Ministry of finance stopped a $74m (about sh192b) contract between UBC and Huawei for the supply of digital migration equipment after Opposition Leader, Nandala Mafabi, complained that the contract was awarded without advertising.
Mutabazi said that if the issues are not solved, by either allowing private bidder or getting UBC money to buy the necessary equipment, we will not have TV in Uganda when the deadline passes.
The deadline for East African countries is 2012, while that of the world is 2015. This means that Uganda has 12 months to migrate. According to Mutabaazi, if we do not beat the regional deadline it means we cannot beat the world deadline.
By Isaac Senabulya