A sizeable percentage of Kenya is likely to be left without any Television signal coverage once a complete switch from analog to digital terrestrial TV signal is done. This is according to Cristoph Limmer - Senior Director Marketing & Market Development for SES in Africa. SES operates a satellite network that it says reaches 99% of the world population. Limmer was speaking at the Sierra Lounge at Yaya Centre where he talked on anticipated challenges of digital TV transition. Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of 1,082.2 million has 234.4 million households compared with Europe which has 236.8 million households against a population of 573.9 million. In addition, Sub-Saharan Africa has only 81.6 million TV households versus 230.4 in Europe where 70% of TV homes receive digital TV while the figure in Africa is at 10%, mostly driven by satellite TV users.Limmer says that the move to digital TV is not just about migration but the exploitation of new opportunities. Such opportunities include higher bandwidth efficiency with lower costs, newer type of services such as the clearer high definition programming, interaction, video on demand and catch up TV.

The biggest challenge of digital TV transition is to reach a maximum number of homes in the shortest possible time. Limmer  says France spend USD 850 Million to cover 95% of the population, while the Czech republic spend about USD 400 million to cover 45% of its population with digital terrestrial TV.  Italy has covered 73% of the population on digital terrestrial TV. The three countries cover the remaining portion of their population through satellite.
At the same time, a percentage of the population under the areas covered by the signal will have challenges receiving signals due to geographical and topographical challenges.
This means that a percentage of the population will be left without coverage once analog TV signals are switched off. According to Limmer, the only feasible way to cater for those who will be left with no digital TV signal is by Satellite.
At about USD 1 Million annually, the government can cover 100% of the country with satellite coverage. The government can then bundle the same channels under digital terrestrial TV and offer them as free-to-air satellite channels. Users will however need DVB-S2 (Digital Video Broadcast Satellite 2) satellites to receive the signals. The use of satellite has an advantage in that it is future proof against new upcoming technology meaning the same equipment will handle newer technology.
Limmer adds that satellite can also be used to relay signals to remote digital terrestrial signal transmitters. With a high uptime of 99%, this relay medium ensures high availability. To Limmer, the mass adoption of standard technology is critical for the success of digital TV. This contributes to lower costs of devices involved. Also critical is the ability to have efficient communication campaigns and a clear product and service road map. At the moment, it has not been clear on which of the DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial) and the newer DVB-T2 standards will be adopted in the country, though recent developments point to the latter.