The decision by the Zambian government to select the country's national broadcaster, the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), as the official carrier for digital television has been met with resistance by a media representative group.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has described the move as being contrary to provisions contained within the national digital migration policy, which allows for the establishment of private and public carriers.

The minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili said ZNBC was given the right to be a national carrier after paying a license fee of ZMW 928,000 (approximately US$125,000) to the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), the country's telecom sector regulator.

He said this was done after cabinet approved the digital migration policy last year.

"Private television stations will be allowed to be on the feed for six months without paying anything while a fee is being considered," Kambwili said.

Kambwili said ZNBC TV 1, TV 2, Prime Television and Revelation Television are the only stations that were aired on June 17, while other channels are expected to soon send feed to ZNBC.

The Zambian government has so far refused to comment on MISA Zambia's claim that it has abrogated the provision of the national digital migration policy.

Two days ago, the Southern African country managed to migrate to digital broadcasting along the line of rail where digital transmitters have been installed under phase one of the digital migration project.

Tenders for phase two and three have not yet been awarded to any company.