A new report released by the GSMA this week, which documents the numerous legal, technical, funding and consumer challenges experienced by regulators and policymakers in Kenya, looks to aid counties planning or in the process of digital migration.

As of February 2017, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), based on its original deadline of 17 June 2015, several countries are yet to start the process including Central African Rep., Eritrea, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Sao Tome and Principe and South Africa.

Shola Sanni, Policy Manager for Africa at GSMA says the report shows that Kenya's success in meeting the switchover deadline began with a clear and well-planned migration roadmap, and the ability to overcome challenges.

"Due consideration of this input and well-reasoned decisions will promote buy-in from stakeholders, which in turn reduce or eliminate the likelihood of court challenges regarding the process. Another thing we've learned from Kenya's experience is that irrespective of what challenges the process faces, they can be overcome, so the risk of litigation is not sufficient to derail the process irrevocably."

Robust broadcast sector

The study of Kenya found that the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting created a more robust broadcasting sector.

According to the report, the switchover resulted in a 20% increase in TV penetration and grew the total number of broadcasters from 14 (before the migration) to 65 (after the migration).

The number of broadcasters reaching multiple cities is also reported to have grown from five to 22, allowing for greater consumer choice and tailored content as well as employment creation.

The GSMA recommends that governments ensure that they present a detailed migration roadmap with information covering deadlines, spectrum management and public awareness.

It should include details on the process of identifying standards, setting up multiplexers and distributors, making set-top boxes available, providing switch-on dates for digital broadcasting and deadlines for analogue transmission switch-off, repurposing of the digital dividend spectrum, offering specific timelines for clearing the band and awarding the spectrum.

"Also, the plan should specify the process that government will use to grant the spectrum to new operators. Just as importantly, transparency is promoted when the roadmap is developed with the input and buy-in of all stakeholders, and not unilaterally by government; furthermore any changes to the plan or process should be communicated. In addition, consumer awareness campaigns to provide accurate information regarding the process, combat misinformation and keep the public in the loop go a long way towards ensuring transparency of the exercise," Sanni added.

She also emphasised the consequences for nations that continue to their transition to digital migration years after the GE06 Agreement, which set the original deadline for migration for 17 June 2015.

"In real terms this means that, on the borders of countries still transmitting analogue, new interference constraints might arise from countries that have successfully completed the digital switchover and they would have to accept this interference. Then again, stepping away from the technicalities and looking at the bigger picture, it's not just about clearing the bands for use. The fact is that the longer the delay in utilising Digital Dividend spectrum for mobile services, the longer the journey towards realising the government's objectives of broadband ubiquity and full digital inclusion."