Three digital signal distributors have been authorized to develop national infrastructure in the country to facilitate migration to digital broadcasting.
The latest addition was a consortium of local media owners who have had a long battle to get their own license to caution their businesses after the shift.
Local broadcasters had earlier expressed fears the transition from analogue signals would heavily impact on their overall advertising revenues-the mainstay of most media stations.
Key functions of these distributors include managing its systems, distribution of multimedia services to consumers on behalf of broadcasters and provide billing systems for pay tv operators.
Signet, a subsidiary of state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) was the first to get full authority to broadcast and distribute digital terrestrial signals in the country.
The distributor has a total of 35 local channels on its platform to include a host of gospel television stations, music, vernacular, education and general viewing as well radio stations.
It was launched Dec. 2009 by the government but faced financial challenges to lock it from improving capacity to efficiently roll out its services.
The state owned distributor had a bigger budget to expand infrastructure amid low revenue collections.
Signet was unable to raise Sh 4 billion needed by then to roll out national infrastructure, limiting its reach to Nairobi and environs alone.
Communication Authority (CA) of Kenya (formerly CCK) was forced to open up the digital tv market to private investors to help meet its digital migration obligation and meet the global deadlines for switch off.
Two years later, a Chinese company, Pan Africa Network Group that boost of over 700 million viewers in Asia and Africa won the tender that attracted five contenders.
Africa Link Agencies, Signal Distributors Ltd, Globecast Africa, Mayfox Ltd, and a consortium of local broadcasters contested for the tender.
The Chinese firm was given three conditions to comply with for an assurance to the government that it will help government achieve its target before it start operations in the country.
It was to show proof that it has capacity to mop up enough resources to fund development of infrastructure and provide national coverage.
The Chinese investor was also to open up its platform to allow local channels use its infrastructure to relay their programmes to audience.
Digital coverage in the country has since surpassed 70 percent of the population cover, making it ready for the country to switch off analogue tv sets in the planned phased approach.
Very impressive.