SA's Digital TV decoders to include Internet access

So in a few years time when this gets implemented they will have a few kbps return path - honestly I don't see the point besides for tracking data which I REALLY don't want my STB to do.
 
How much is this going to increase device cost?
Who will build the towers and its equipment?
There is a good chance it is just going to be another white elephant that no one will use ala Sentech.

I want to see successful case studies first.
 
JustAsk said:
Return channel is NOT internet access
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Yeah, from a technical & practical prespective, only solution I would think viable for semi-proper Internet access would be if the STBs would support (cheap) GPRS/EDGE/3G USB dongles, together with some bulk (semi-subsidised) deal with the mobile networks i.e. heavily restricted APN (kinda like Blackberry).
 
This is crazy. Increasing the cost of a device for theoretical but impractical benefits is stupid. By the time these boxes are deployed smartphone penetration would have put cheaper and better options for Internet access on the table. These boxes should be cheap and deployed fast. We would do more to close the digital divide by freeing spectrum faster. Increasing cost and complexity means slower more expensive rollouts of digital tv, leading to a delay in providing next generation wireless networks. Cell phone networks are proven tools to close the digital divide. Internet over TV had a hard time catching on ... Even though it is promoted from time to time...

But I guess this scores a lot of politcal points. Proper cost-benefit analysis be damned.
 
zamicro said:
Thanks for the link. After reading this it seems as if it is not really full internet, but more interaction with the broadcaster. So they will know what you watch, and how long you watch it. Might be handy for determining viewer numbers.
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As far as I understand the main purpose for providing a return path is that people can access government services, like ID book and passport applications, check policy documents, etc.
I think the information requested will be transmitted in 'idle' spaces of the spectrum of TV signal.
While it may fulfil above objectives it will probably be painfully slow and almost certainly not give full access to the internet in any meaningful sense.
 
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Im reading this again... and Im left scratching my head...

again.. :rolleyes:

How on earth do you advertise something like this with internet access!? Its entirely misleading!! :mad:
 
markings said:
As far as I understand the main purpose for providing a return path is that people can access government services, like ID book and passport applications, check policy documents, etc.
I think the information requested will be transmitted in 'idle' spaces of the spectrum of TV signal.
While it may fulfil above objectives it will probably be painfully slow and almost certainly not give full access to the internet in any meaningful sense.
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Noble cause noted. But won't this require more complex input devices for the STBs or require these sites to be converted to TV-capable versions?
 
My concern is that they will be subsidising these STB's from the USAF, which is meant to be used by the telcos to provide universal access to rural (under developed?) areas.
 
Dont know whom is going to pay for this, but well done! At least someone with not their head stuck up their ass!
 
MickeyD said:
Firstly the higher spec STB, then the bandwidth.
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No,i think you misunderstood,granted the article is not very factual.

SPECS:From what i can see,the added hdmi output and better software are the only higher specs i can see.That would add less than R10 to the cost,if any.
BANDWIDTH:There are no bandwidth issues as this is radio frequency.

The is no special upgrade needed to the base stations.If you can receive a dtt signal you're good to go.DVB-RCT is embedded in the transport stream.
How does it transmit? Your already included RF tuner/modulator.Rf tuners are 500mw transmitters.You can test that by connecting a tv antenna to a vcr,put it near your tv and scan yout tv.

Another thing to remember.This setup is tailor made for push VOD,better than a satellite setup.
 
markings said:
As far as I understand the main purpose for providing a return path is that people can access government services, like ID book and passport applications, check policy documents, etc.
I think the information requested will be transmitted in 'idle' spaces of the spectrum of TV signal.
While it may fulfil above objectives it will probably be painfully slow and almost certainly not give full access to the internet in any meaningful sense.
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That would make more sense, but just wondering if that really is the best way to go for this type of thing.
MickeyD said:
My concern is that they will be subsidising these STB's from the USAF, which is meant to be used by the telcos to provide universal access to rural (under developed?) areas.
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I completely agree, increased cost for STBs and a return path which is most likely for tracking usage (channels watched, VOD etc), but little else. I don't really see the noble ID book application etc stuff really working that well as there are multiple other considerations around that. I would much rather see that same money going in to promoting the wholesale LTE networks and more extensive national backhaul to make data access super cheap via budget mobile handsets.

How about focussing on schools, getting basic computer access labs (cheap, simple PCs to use Libre Office, Paint and a browser and a typing tutor, nothing more) and get them to provide a few hours of community access to better leverage the infrastructure. How about mandating that they have a tower on site for LTE/3G/4G etc - make it a deal that allows them free x bandwidth access for the labs then.

I really wish I worked at the DoC.
 
Okay I am not in favour of DTT because I honestly believe that it makes more sense to do all television broadcasting by way of sat. However with DTT being a reality this is a good thing in a particular context. It does allow for low cost internet access but is damn far from being the sort of broadband connectivity that actually has an impact on GDP.

The effect of having a return channel on an STB essentially allows the STB to provide interactive service ...
Something to bear in mind is that the technology dilutes capacity as you increase the number of STBs in the network so a broadcasting tower serving a million or so boxes isn't really going to be able to offer much in the line of a return channel to any individual STB if everybody is using the capability.

The real intention of DVB-RCT is to enable the television industry to survive and bring out e-commerce solutions:
The really useful pamflet posted in this thread said:
It is now widely projected that revenues from TV commerce will exceed revenues from e-commerce in the home by 2008.
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The reality is that for all convergence that exists there is still fundamental conflict between the PC paired with PSTN telecommunications originated technology (Dial-up,ADSL, Fibre to premises, Wi-Max), the Mobile Operators (GSM 2G, 3G, LTE) and the TV industry. Each historic sector tries to develop techology which trumps the existing technologies of the other guys in frequently doing the same thing - often by converging with one of the other fields: So we have the cellular industry giving us a webox for you TV. I imagine most STBs will simply provide TV based internet services - so you'll plug in a Keyboard into the USB slot. The idea of trying to provide connectivity to computers through an STB is really unlikely. All the DVB is fending off against is tripple play solutions by positing its technology as capable off cool things.

Presumably Sentech will keep control of this exercise and I don't think any real costs are involved because ultimately Sentech is gaining savings on operational costs by using new technology over the analouge system currently. There needs to be backhaul provided to Sentech towers for broadcasting and the same backhaul will provide the backhaul. The operational cost benefits and the services sold which come with the ability to have a return chanell - so TV shopping will more than cover the costs of commodity internet.

If the overall effect is that we have basic rural internet connectivity provided for free and ultimately paid for by the free to air channels and thus ultimately paid for by commercial advertisers the Bob's your uncle (or dictator to the north) and it makes some of the silliness of keeping terrestrial broadcasting less silly. I don't imagine users getting more than a hundred or so megs out of the service a month.
 
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