Countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that are yet to carry out digital migration will do so by June 16 2016, according to conclusion reached at the end of a SADC Communications, Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) and Postal Services Ministers meeting was held in Walvis Bay, Namibia.
“I want to congratulate SADC countries that managed to meet the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) June 17 deadline to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting system. Some of us may have missed the ITU deadline, but I’m sure we will hit the June 17, 2016 SADC deadline, … let’s keep the momentum,” said Chair of the SADC Council of Ministers responsible for ICT and Postal Services, Supa Mandiwanzira.
Mandiwanzira, who is also Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT Postal and Courier Services, said the region cannot ignore digital migration, and ICT as a tool of fostering fruitful and sustainable economic cooperation.
According to him, the SADC Communications’ Ministers have a mammoth task of ensuring full regional integration through harmonised development of ICTs aimed at attaining universal communication services.
The Chair of SADC Council said it was time to ensure affordable, reliable and secure broadband connectivity across the region including those in the remote areas and landlocked countries.
