KABUL (Pajhwok) – Afghanistan Broadcast System (ABS), an Afghan-owned media company based in Kabul, on Wednesday celebrated the launch of Afghanistan’s first digital television service. The replacement of old analog broadcasting system to the new digital system was made during an inauguration ceremony in Kabul on Sunday, which was attended by high level government officials.

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology said the contract of digitizing the broadcasting system of the country was awarded to ABS company which will initially digitize the 60 TV stations in capital Kabul. The ministry said the company will soon start work on digitization of TV stations in other provinces, including Herat, Ghazni, Kandahar, Mazar and Jalalabad cities.

Afghan-owned Afghanistan Broadcasting System (ABS) is a startup enterprise licensed by the government of Afghanistan to build and operate the country’s only Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV). Their network will have a nationwide footprint and will deliver high quality 24/7 wireless digital TV service to consumers 365 days a year.

ABS’s DVB T2 wireless platform will distribute digital signals from Afghan broadcast TV stations and international TV channels to TV viewers across the country. With the purchase of one of ABS’s authorized set top boxes and a simple antenna, TV viewers will have free access to all local broadcast TV outlets. Additionally, an array of International TV channels and specialty programs will be accessible for an annual fee.

35 TV stations and 62 radio stations are currently operational in Kabul while 54 TV stations and 160 radio stations are operational in other provinces of the country.