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Authority to standardise gadgets for Internet TV

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CA director-general Francis Wangusi. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The communications sector regulator has moved to standardise the gadgets used to provide television content via the Internet.

Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) director- general Francis Wangusi says in a notice that the standardisation of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) set-top boxes is meant to protect consumers in a nascent facet of the broadcasting sector.

“The Authority has developed draft technical specifications for IPTV set top boxes (STBs) to ensure reliability and acceptable quality of customer premise equipment used in the reception of the said broadcasting service,” said Mr Wangusi Monday in a statement.

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The Authority invited the public to submit comments on the draft regulations that are now posted on its website. Traditionally television programming is received via broadcast signals. With IPTV however, the content is usually delivered through the web.

The CA says it has so far licensed 8 IPTV providers in Kenya including Safaricom #ticker:SCOM and Royal Media services. The company has also licensed three video-on-demand service providers— Liquid Telecom, Mediamax Networks and Mandarin Communications Limited.