SADC TV bouquet on the cards

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Southern Africa (CRASA) electronic communication committee is meeting in Harare from the 24th to the 25th of January to finalise work on the adoption of digital sound broadcasting and to come up with a common position on the proposed SADC TV bouquet.

CRASA's electronic communication committee is hosting a two day meeting in Harare with the finalisation of a position paper on SADC TV bouquet, harnessing of local content and development of framework on digital sound broadcasting high on the agenda.

Officially opening the two day meeting, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe Director General Dr Gift Machengete stressed the need for collaborative efforts if the regional bloc is to fully harness ICTs for economic development.

International Telecommunications Union representative for Southern Africa Engineer Chali Tumelo said the union is pleased with efforts by countries in the implementation of the digital terrestrial television broadcasting and pledged more technical support.

CRASA has under its strategic plan prioritised the prioritised digital migration, universal access, digital broadcasting service and harmonised spectrum management.

A SADC ministerial meeting held in Walvis Bay in 2015 saw member countries passing a decision on the establishment of a SADC TV bouquet as part of strategies to harness local content.