Lawo gives power to Kigali 104.1

Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is situated within rolling hills and valleys and is known for being a modern and vibrant place, acting as the country’s economic, cultural and transport hub. Aiming to mirror the beauty and modernity of the city, Kigali’s 104.1 Power FM, one of Rwanda’s first stations to adopt IP broadcast infrastructure, has chosen Lawo’s virtual radio solutions to best serve listeners.

104.1 Power FM has virtualised its radio studios using Lawo RƎLAY virtual radio software, aiming to give operators a flexible, fast workflow, requiring little traditional hardware. In this new environment, a large touchscreen for the DJ is at the heart of the action. Using a standard PC and Lawo RƎLAY VRX software, coupled with VSC virtual sound card drivers, 104.1 Power FM are provided a complete solution.

Users are able to remotely control the Power FM radio station using only a smartphone. Ken Kayima, CEO of Power FM, explained: “Creating a radio station has never been this easy. RƎLAY controls are so simple that presenters can focus solely on their programs and listeners. Expansion for inputs or streaming is just plug and play; we can connect smartphones as hybrids and integrate any radio playout system.”

Ralf Schimmel, Lawo’s senior sales director, Africa, Italy & Balkans, noted: “The creativity that Lawo customers display in using our products to solve problems never fails to delight me. Ken and his team instantly grasped the possibilities that RƎLAY offers, and the benefits of an IP-based virtual radio infrastructure. With these they developed a custom workflow concept that makes Power FM really stand out among Kigali’s radio stations.”

Kayima added: “Lawo’s virtual options are compelling. Virtualisation is where the world is heading, and as broadcasters, we can’t be left behind. Radio operations should be so simple that presenters can concentrate solely on delivering a seamless experience to the listening audience.”

Lawo’s distributor and technical specialist in Rwanda, Fred Martin Kiwalabye, said: “We are proud to partner with Ralf Schimmel and the Lawo team on this important project. Many stations in Rwanda are recognising the compelling economic reasons for using these new Lawo technologies to move from cable-centered infrastructures to neat IP solutions.”