The Zambian government has opened a tender for the supply of equipment as part of phase two of the country's three-phased digital migration project.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Godfrey Malama confirmed that the opening of the tender signals the Zambian government's readiness to launch the second phase.

He said under phase one, Zambia installed 10 transmitters and that were connected along the rail line.

That phase, he added, was carried out by Star Software Technologies Company of China at a cost of US$9.6 million. Zambia experienced challenges in importing migration equipment which delayed progress.

Phase two will require more transmitters because connectivity will extend to all towns and provincial centres, according to Malama. "After successfully migrating under phase one, we now want to move to the second phase of the project and so far, a tender for phase two of the project is already underway."

It is estimated that phase two will run up to January 2015, although authorities have not stated how much it will cost.

Malama added that the Zambian government had learnt many lessons from phase one and will work hard to avoid challenges going forward, specifically in terms of delays with the importation of equipment.

He added that the Southern African country would be more "adequately prepared financially" to address this issue.

In June authorities approved a plan to sell set-top boxes, required to pick up digital signals, on hire purchase to enable rural communities to acquire the equipment. It was reported that the govt was in negotiations with an unnamed Chinese company to make the equipment available on a three-month basis.