MultiChoice dumps DVB-H broadcasting in Kenya as its DStv Mobile and GOtv Mobile service reaching end of life, will get shut down 1 September.

MultiChoice is finally also dumping its DStv DVB-H mobile pay-TV service in East Africa with MultiChoice Kenya shuttering its DStv Mobile service from 1 September.

The outdated and obsolete DStv Walka and DStv Drifta are going dodo with the DVB-H service - "H" standing for handset - getting shut down this coming Saturday, 11 years after DStv Mobile was launched in 2007 in South Africa and in 2011 in Kenya.

MultiChoice wants mobile users to access DStv and GOtv through the DStv Now app, streaming TV content through using data.

"Our Mobile TV service was fist launched in 2007. At the time, we were the first to pioneer technology to broadcast to mobile mobile phones," say MultiChoice Kenya in a statement.

"However, as technology has evolved, and with the introduction of broadband, the streaming of audiovisual content to multiple devices - for instance smartphones, tablets and laptops - has become more attractive."

"DVB-H-based mobile TV broadcasting, along with the range of devices used to access this technology, have reached their end of life. The DStv Mobile and GOtv Mobile TV service will therefore end on Saturday 1 September".

BREAKING. Icasa (finally!) grants e.tv and MultiChoice DBV-H licenses to start mobile TV broadcasts in South Africa.

e.tv and MultiChoice will become the only two South African broadcasters allowed to launch proper mobile TV services in South Africa after they've been awarded DVB-H licences by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

Icasa made the announcement today, and said that MultiChoice and e.tv will be awarded their licenses next week after the terms and conditions of the licenses are negotiated. It brings clarity and a start-up finality (the licensees have 12 months in which to launch their respective mobile TV service offerings) to a drawn-out, cumbersome, burdened bureaucratic and intricately complex bidding, -rebidding and stalled application process by Icasa that was stretched out over years.

After e.tv applied in April and Icasa proceeded with that application, Icasa again asked for applications during a second round in June. Then MultiChoice (initially disqualified because of an Icasa technicality) applied again with Super 5 Media. On August 27 Super 5 Media withdrew its application and declined to participate further. This left MultiChoice as the only successful applicant for the second round. That means that e.tv and MultiChoice are the only two successful applicants for the radio frequency spectrum they applied for.

ALSO READ: Icasa set to announce the successful applicants for DVB-H mobile TV licences on Friday.