Lesotho’s Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mothetjoa Metsing says his ministry, as the custodian of media issues in Lesotho has moved a step ahead in dealing with digital migration.
Delivering a keynote address at a four-day Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the capital, Maseru on Monday, the minister said that this has been done through the establishment of a committee, comprising of four broadcasters and a regulator to advice the ministry on digital migration.
”I hope that the meeting will be helpful to Lesotho, as it will form the basis on how best to deal with the issue to shift from analogue to a digital system,” he said.
The minister said Lesotho is committed to the principle of press freedom and association, adding that this can be testified by the licensing of more than 10 private radio stations.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Deputy Director of Mauritius Broadcasting Association, Mrs. Soondranee Soborun said a comprehensive program and policies needed to be developed to make digital migration successful within SABA members.
She urged members to take technology seriously, since the issue of digital migration is no longer a choice, but calls for embracing of new technologies and move from analogue to digital.
” I urge all the participants to be proactive, exchange information and ensure that they embrace the transition of technology in line with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline of 2015,” she added.
The meeting is attended by over 130 delegates from the 14 southern African countries. They arrived in Lesotho on Saturday while the AGM was preceded by the SABA members’ associate meetings on Sunday.
The conference, which ends on Wednesday, is held under the theme ’Embracing Digital Migration’, which calls for discussion on issues surrounding migration from analogue to digital technology
Source African Press Agency
