AS
the agreed date within East African Community (EAC) to change from analog to
digital technology draws closer, majority of Tanzanians are still ignorant
about the changes, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)
admits that even the authority and its operation is little known.The world targets 2015 to have countries switch to digital technology, but the EAC countries to meet the objective by December 31, 2012, but most of the countries in the region are unprepared for the changes and may need to move with analogue until 2015.
According to press reports, some Kenyan nationals have dragged their government to court stopping the analogy to digital move by December 31 this year, but the TCRA officials said that Tanzania has been ready for the changes because its preparations started about six years ago.
At the first ever TCRA seminar with reporters and editors based in Zanzibar, officials bragged that Tanzania has been far ahead of many countries in the region, as far as its technology is concerned.
"At least we are sure of services including the availability of decoder devices," said Mr Victor Nkya, TCRA deputy director- zonal operations. He said of the 24 per cent requirement for preparations to enter digital technology, Tanzania has already beat 20 per cent and the "remaining four per cent include some parts of the country such as Morogoro."
Nkya said that preparation for the scientific migration started in 2001 and there was a boost in 2005. Nkya said the shifting to digital applies to television, asking users to switch their mind to the new world, asking the media to help spread the news about digital including programmes about the work of TCRA. He said media can bring big change in the country.
The zonal operations director mentioned other achievements since TCRA was established as control over the telephones interconnection Rate ceiling of TZS 112.70, anticipating that rates will drop more next year. He said the number of mobile phones have grown from 300,000 in 2005 to about 28 million in 2012.
However, he said the registration of mobile phones has been challenging because of the mobile telephone companies have been reluctant to have unregistered phones locked. "but we managed to register over 90 per cent and hopefully the rest may be complete by mid next year."
Tanzania Daily News