The ministry of local government and the Chinese Government on Thursdayrolled out the 10,000 Villages Digital Television Project that will see beneficiaries across the 47 African countries get access to satellite television services.
This is one of the 10 areas of cooperation agreed on during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in 2015 in Johannesburg South Africa and attended by among others, the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The FOCAC meeting was also attended by African Heads of State, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers in charge of economic cooperation from China and 50 African countries.
Speaking during the ceremony to launch the project which was held in Musanze District, local government minister Francis Kaboneka said that ensuring access to satellite television is one of the virtues of access to information, which he said government takes very seriously.
"Since 2008, the Government of Rwanda initiated the Digital TV Broadcasting project that deployed digital TV transmitters with the aim of improving TV nationwide coverage hence satisfying citizens’ rights of access to information,” the minister said.
He added: "this TV penetration programme we are launching officially has a satellite signal which will help our citizens to access TV and access to information on national and international events and programmes that would educate and inform them hence increasing their awareness and knowledge to improve their welfare”.
He lauded China as a valuable partner in contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.
The project will be implemented through the support of Chinese firm, StarTimes, a digital television company that was contracted to do the work.
In Rwanda, it will be implemented in across 300 villages.
6,000 individual households in 300 villages in Rwanda will be connected with satellite television service composed of a satellite dish, a high definition set top box and accessories while 900 public institutions will be connected through a satellite projector TV system and 32 inch television sets.
The Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Rao Hongwei said it was a great pleasure for him to attend the launch of the project.
"This is part of the "Ten Cooperation Plans” to boost cooperation between China and Africa. The launch of this project is also in line with Rwandan government’s commitment to bridging digital divide between the rural and urban areas.
As the Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, I firmly believe that Chinese technology and equipment will help more rural Rwandan people enrich spiritual and cultural life, strengthen connection with the outside, and increase access to global development”.
StarTimes Rwanda Chief Executive Officer Jess Jing noted that the project will create over 600 direct job opportunities.
"We intend to train at least two maintenance engineers in each of the 300 villages to ensure sustainability of the project beyond the implementation period while hundreds of other engineers will be enrolled to undertake installation for the beneficiaries across the country ahead of the August 2018 completion date”.
Over one hundred and twenty (120) engineers have so far been trained as efforts are made towards full implementation of the project.
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