Mozambique/China sign digital broadcasting contract

The Mozambican government and the Chinese company Startimes Software Technology have signed an agreement, valued at the equivalent of R1.4 billion, for implementing the second phase of a digital broadcasting system. It will allow the construction of 24 transmission stations and digital installations for the public broadcasters, Radio Mozambique and Mozambican Television (TVM). Transport and communications minister, Gabriel Muthisse, put the total cost of the migration from analogue to digital systems at over R3bn and said that this sum is now almost totally guaranteed. The money for the Startimes deal comes as a loan from the Eximbank of China – which helps explain why a Chinese company was chosen. All countries are supposed to switch to digital systems by 2015.