Kenya invites bids for broadcasting signal distribution licences

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
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The Communications Commission of Kenya has today advertised a tender for two more digital television signal distribution licences in an effort to fast-track migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting ahead of Kenya’s 2012 switchover deadline.

The tender, which is in the form of Expressions of Interest, calls for bids from interested local and international firms to build and operate a national broadcasting signal distribution and transmission infrastructure.

The qualifying firms will be awarded licences for an initial period of 15 years renewable for a further 10 years.

The issuance of two additional signal distribution networks is meant to introduce competition in the signal distribution market.

The digital broadcast signal was switched on in Kenya in December 2009, and is currently available in Nairobi and its environs through a platform operated by Signet, a subsidiary of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation – the national public broadcaster.

The successful bidders are expected to run their signal distribution networks on the principle of open access and thus interoperate with others.

To qualify for the tender, applicants must not own another signal distribution licence.

More: Expression of Interest