The Zambian government has given the first indication that the country may fail to beat the June 2015 digital migration deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Godfrey Malama said on Tuesday 31 March that the Southern African country might not be able to beat the deadline due to various challenges, including the importation of migration equipment.

Malama made the statement at an inspection of a batch of equipment for phase one of the country's digital migration project that had just arrived at country's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

He said Zambia is still waiting on most of the equipment for phase two and three, presenting a challenge for the country to meet the June deadline.

Although phase one of the country's digital migration project is underway, it is well behind schedule. Phase two was supposed to run up to January 2015 in preparation for the start of phase three.

Malama said phase one of the project is being implemented along the line of rail, while the second and third phase of the project will be implemented in all districts, provincial centres and remote parts of the country.

"The arrival of the equipment reaffirms government's commitment to ensure that the digital migration project comes to fruition," Malama said.

The Zambian government awarded the $9.6 million tender for phase one of the digital migration project to Star Software Technologies of China last year.

But with less than three months remaining before the digital migration deadline, tenders for phase two and three of the project have still not yet been award to any company.

Star Software Technologies project manager Jason Liu said the installation of Zambia's phase one equipment is scheduled to be completed by June 10, 2015.

"The remaining equipment for phase one of the project will arrive in the country by April 15, 2015," Liu said.