Government has stopped issuing licences to investors intending to broadcast using analog. This marks the beginning of the end of analogue broadcasting in the country.

Analog signals are subject to fade and interference of which digital signals are not. The move comes when other East African countries including Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are already enjoying the digital technology fruits.

In these three countries, viewers have a variety of channels to choose from. But in Rwanda consumers have no choice—but to view the only channel (state owned television station)—Rwanda Television. You have to view or switch off the set.

But the Director General Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (Rura) Diogene Mudenge said the country is in transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

"By 2015 we have to be digital,” Mudenge said on phone over the weekend.

This date was set by the International Telecommunication Union for all countries in the world to broadcast in digital. And the transition period from analogue to digital broadcasting, was set—June 17 2006, to June 17, 2015.

State minister for communications Eng. Albert Butare earlier said: "Four digital channels are ready to be rented out to investors interested in starting digital broadcast television stations in the country.”

He added that Rwandans owning analog TV sets and willing to pay for the services will be able to view digital programmes, with the help of the imported 100 digital-to-analog set-top converter boxes.

The communication experts describe digital broadcast as capable of telecasting top quality images and sound.

Digital broadcast

Internet information indicates digital television refers to transmitting digital TV signals over the air or via cable and satellite. Digital broadcast produce high quality sound like that found on a CD.

The slow conversion to all-digital television broadcasting, also known as the digital television (DTV) transition, is partly because digital is a more efficient transmission technology that allows broadcast stations to provide improved picture and sound quality, as well as provide more programming options for consumers through multiple broadcast streams (multicasting).

In addition, all-digital broadcasting will free up many frequencies to be used for public safety, such as police, fire, and emergency rescue, and for the provision of advanced commercial wireless services for consumers.

Additional information from internet