The Chinese government plans to distribute digital satellite television and hardware in 200 villages across Togo, speeding up the West African country’s plans to switch to digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting.
DTT, which will replace analog television, is a technology that improves image quality and reduces operating costs inherent in broadcasting. In October 2019, the Togolese parliament passed a law authorising the DTT migration, a process that began a few years before the regulation was approved.
The project was expected to kick off with the construction of nine digital television signal transmission sites. However, it has stalled as DTT coverage in the French-speaking country remains low, and non-existent in rural areas. On paper, the Chinese intervention could ease Togo’s transition from analog to digital satellites.
China’s deputy trade minister Qian Keming said late last month the Asian powerhouse was “committed to assisting in the implementation of this programme” in Togo.
The Chinese project will cover more than a third of villages in the country, which is one of the smallest by land area and population in Africa with approximately 8 million people. Continue reading
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