2018年CRI China's digital television service promotes connectivity in Africa

 

Promoting connectivity and cooperation in informational communication between China and Africa is high on the agenda of this year's FOCAC Beijing Summit.

The collaboration¹ is being pushed greatly by a free digital television project of China in rural parts of Africa.

Rosslyn lives in a village on the western outskirts² of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Watching television was not a daily option for her family due to high costs for digital television services. However, things changed this June, when Chinese media company StarTimes started to roll out free digital television services in Kenya.

Rosslyn says Startimes' digital television provides a lot of entertainment value for her family.

"The project has provided us with free digital television service. My children are very happy. Every day, I tell them interesting things I see on TV. I can also relax myself by watching television after work. The service has indeed helped us a lot."

Rosslyn's village is one of over 10-thousand African villages that Startimes is offering free digital television to.

The project is one of the Ten Cooperation Plans announced at the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015.

So far, Startimes has finished installing digital televisions in six countries, and is expected to roll out services to 19 countries by the end of this year. Startimes is also producing various TV programs and has dubbed⁴ Chinese films and television series, which are all available for people in Africa.

Guo Ziqi, vice³ president of Startimes, says the free digital television services and programs are becoming popular with locals.

"Those benefiting from our free digital services are mostly farmers in rural areas. Before, people in certain villages, especially those far away from the cities, couldn't afford to buy a television. They couldn't watch any TV programs. After Startimes rolled out our services to the villages, local people were able to watch programs they like."

Guo says Startimes is working with local partners to facilitate the digitalization of the African economy and promote local connectivity.

"The global internet technology is developing rapidly. Many African telecom operators are working to keep up with the digital era. In terms of this field, Startimes can help with them with our abundant programs and experience. We have inked deals with 23 local telecom operators. We will provide our content to them and cooperate with them comprehensively to promote the prosperous growth of African internet market."

Hilda Malecela comes from Tanzania and currently lives in China. She says African people are enjoying the benefits of digitalization.

"The digitalization increased our standard of living. When it was in the analog⁵ (era), it was a low standard of living. But when the digital comes, life of Tanzanians or African people, life increased, because they learn. They learn a lot of things from the television. Also, when they introduced this digital life, the technology was increased. So for us, digital does a lot of things for African people and African countries."

Accelerating connectivity is a key issue of the Agenda 2063 currently being proposed by the African Union. Joseph Mucheru, Kenyan Minister of Information Communication Technology, says collaboration in digital television is able to promote connectivity across Kenya, and also promote bilateral⁶ economic growth.

"The governments of Kenya and China agree to implement⁷ the project not only to promote access to digital television across the country, but also to enhance people to people cultural exchange. The launch of this project demonstrates the increased mutual⁸ cooperation between the two countries and promoting of the social, economic and political prosperity of our two economies."

1 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 analog   

n.类似物，模拟

参考例句：

• The analog signal contains high-frequency video information,which helps make up the picture.模拟信号包括有助于构成图像的高频视频信息。
• The analog computer measures continuously,without proceeding step by step.模拟计算机不是一步一步地进行，而是连续地进行量度。

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

8 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。