Digital TV Announcement: Live posting from event

[Jan]

We're at the event where Minister Roy Padayachie has formally announced South Africa's digital terrestrial television (DTT) standard.

Some interesting questions have been asked so we thought we'd post the details so long while we prepare an article for later publication.

 

[Derrick]

What are the implications for a consumer w.r.t. this announcement?

• Crisper & clearer picture
• Starts liberating spectrum that is currently being used in broadcasting – increases the maximum number of channels that are available to 14
• Freed airwaves allows community television channels to apply for frequencies
• Migration could be the catalyst for content development – possible job creation, skills development etc.

 

[Derrick]

The CEO of Sentech, Mahapi, who joined November 2010 was invited for comment by the Minister:

They currently cover 33% of the population and it is planned to have 60% coverage by the end of the financial year (in March). They have already looked at cost implications on transmitter side and say that the upgrade to DVB-T2 can be don in parallel with the roll-out and are confident that they can hit the target of December 2013 (when the analogue signal will be switched off).

 

[Derrick]

What still has to be done before we can switch on DVB-T2?

Work needs to be done with SABS for new DVB-T2 standards and ICASA will need to review those regulations.

 

[Derrick]

STB (Set Top Box) specification is being finalised to work on issues of access control to prevent it being bought with the subsidy and then used outside of the country - they are taking it up with the SABS etc.