StarTimes gets Zambia Digital Migration Contract

The government of Zambia has awarded a tender for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of Terrestrial Digital Migration to Beijing-based Star Software Technology Company, also known as StarTimes. The contract is worth about US$220 million.

StarTimes chairperson Pang Xing Sing described the awarding of the tender as one that was setting the pace to accelerate Zambia’s terrestrial digital migration by the stipulated deadline of 2015.

“We will bring our expertise in terrestrial digital migration to Zambia at par with China and many other African countries where we have a successful track record,” Mr Pang said.

StarTimes, mainly involved in large-scale system integration, digital TV network construction and operation has since 2007 established its footprint in 16 African countries.

The company has launched digital television (TV) operation services in Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea and Mozambique.

Mr Pang said the fact that his company had built six uplink stations, 65 transmission stations and two digital TV play-out centres in Africa gave it greater confidence of successfully implementing terrestrial digital migration in Zambia.

He said the digital migration would enhance the film and broadcasting sector in Zambia, growing an impressive value chain as evidenced by the company’s mobile multimedia deployment in other African countries. 

Credit: Times of Zambia