Samoa digital change delayed for three years

Samoa's change from analogue to digital communications has been delayed another three years because no companies are interested in doing the job.

The government initially put the transition out to tender back in 2016.

The original plan was for the country's television services to use digital last year.

But local television operators raised concerns over cost.

The Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i, said the project's cost for the government was expensive - the first phase would cost around US$4.5 million.

The Minister said the government was negotiating with overseas companies who were interested.

Afamasaga said a Chinese company would be sending a delegation early this year to make consultations with the local businesses for partnership.

The unnamed company, according to the minister had successfully transitioned analogue to digital in an African country with a population of 200 thousand people.