Radio 47 Launches Africa’s First Fully IP-Based Broadcast Facility Powered By Lawo

Picture Credits - ©Bahati Mutembei, Reallex Films.
In a pioneering move for African broadcasting, Radio 47, part of Cape Media Ltd., has unveiled Africa’s first fully IP-based, automated hybrid broadcast facility. Located in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and a rising technology hub of East Africa, the installation represents a new benchmark in the modernization of media infrastructure on the continent.
The new facility seamlessly integrates radio, television, live streaming, and remote production into a unified, flexible system, using best-in-class broadcast technology from manufacturers including Lawo (Germany), MultiCam Systems (France), AVT Audio Video Technologies (Germany), Voceware, Cleanfeed, Genelec, Telos Alliance, PTZ Optics, OptiSign, and others.
Lawo IP Technology At The Core
Central to the installation is a fully IP-native broadcast infrastructure built on Lawo’s crystal broadcast consoles, Power Core DSP engine, and RAVENNA/AES67-based audio-over-IP networking. The integrated Lawo VisTool GUI software provides customizable touchscreen interfaces for control and visualization of sources, meters, and routing, helping operators stay focused and efficient even in complex, multi-platform productions. The new workflow allows for full remote control and monitoring of all broadcast operations, simplifying day-to-day production and enabling greater flexibility for remote and hybrid teams.
Each of the three new on-air studios at Radio 47 features a Lawo crystal console, chosen for its compact form factor, intuitive operation, and seamless integration with IP workflows. The consoles are networked to a centralized Lawo Power Core, a high-density, modular IP I/O and mixing engine capable of managing extensive audio routing, DSP processing, and multiple studio operations from a single location.
The Power Core is equipped with modular I/O cards that handle analog, AES3, Dante®, and MADI formats, ensuring compatibility with both legacy and next-generation equipment. This flexibility was key in allowing Cape Media to future-proof its investment while still accommodating external sources and OB workflows. The system’s modular design also allows for easy expansion and remote integration, whether for regional studio feeds, mobile devices, or external contributors.
All studios, edit rooms, and control points are connected via an AES67-compliant IP backbone, with full support for RAVENNA networking. This standards-based infrastructure enables real-time, lossless audio transmission and complete operational freedom — any feed, phone call, or stream can be routed anywhere in the facility instantly, without the need for physical re-patching or manual configuration.
IP Workflows For Modern Radio
The combination of Lawo’s open standards, low-latency architecture, and unmatched reliability has proven particularly valuable in the Kenyan market, where agility, consistency, and operational uptime are key to maintaining competitive edge in fast-growing media environments.
The new facility is already enabling Cape Media to expand its editorial and creative offerings. Whether it’s producing multilingual podcasts, simulcasting to online platforms, or managing live call-ins and studio guests with minimal setup time, the Lawo-powered system is designed to evolve with Cape Media’s vision.
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