The Société Ivoirienne de Télédiffusion (SIDT), a public broadcaster of Côte dIvoire, has chosen SES as its digital partner in a move to meet the country’s 2020 deadline for switching from analogue to digital broadcasting
Under this multi-year agreement, 60 analogues turned digital channels will be broadcast at 22 degrees West via the SES-4 satellite with a brighter, sharper picture and better sound.
SES will use SES-4 coverage to ensure high bandwidth availability and broadcast all channels across the country through the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) infrastructure.
These digital channels will then be available to all Ivorian television (TV) viewers who have a digital set-top box or an integrated digital TV with a built-in DTT decoder.
In addition to using SES-4 to accelerate the digital switchover, the capacity leased on SES-4 for digital broadcasting will also be used to broadcast Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI), the state’s public TV network, to fulfil its public service mission of providing local news and information to Ivorians.
Yeo Adama, general manager of the SIDT, said, “SES has provided us with an innovative solution to ensure deployment of digital TV by broadcasting multiplexes across the country. This is an important milestone as we are now one step closer to ending analogue service.”
Clint Brown, vice-president of sales and market development for SES video in Africa, added, “The move from analogue to digital broadcasting can be complex, and we are fully committed to making this as hassle-free as possible for the SIDT in the country.”
“Our satellite will provide the reliability to broadcast high-picture-quality TV services to Ivorians, while our teams are well-positioned to deliver the technical services and innovative solutions required to facilitate a successful digital migration for Côte d’Ivoire,” he stated.
