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Ivan Leon
Executive Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 6,010
Paragraph 2.1.2 of The Government Gazette, No. 31408 (No. 958), of 8 September 2008, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of Section 3 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No.36 of 2005), regarding the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy.
G. 31408 GoN 958 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electronic-communications-act-broadcasting-digital-migration-policy
This states that the initial switch-over from the existing analogue TV broadcast signal to a DIGITAL TV Broadcast signal, would happen by 1 November 2008, after which a period of 'dual-illumination' of both Broadcast signals would occur for 3 years, after which the analogue TV Broadcast signal would be switched off permanently, as from 1 November 2011.
This is in accordance with the 2006 Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC-06) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which resolved that ALL countries of Europe, Africa (INCLUDING South Africa), Middle East as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran, would migrate from the existing analogue TV broadcast signal to the digital TV Broadcast signal by 17 June 2015.
(see Paragraph 1.1.1 and 3.3.1 of The Government Gazette, No. 31408 (No. 958), of 8 September 2008, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of Section 3 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005).
This would then allow ONLY the digital TV Broadcast signal to be transmitted to ALL households in South Africa, and be received by means of obtaining a digital TV broadcast Set-Top Box, in order to decode the digital TV Broadcast signal and allow it to be displayed on an analogue TV Tuner equipped TV Set (one NOT having a built-in Digital TV Tuner incorporated in it).
Without such a digital TV broadcast Set-Top Box being connected to ANY existing analogue TV Tuner equipped TV set, the viewer would therefore be unable to receive or display ANY TV broadcasts whatsoever, as the TV Set's analogue Tuner would no longer be receiving an Analogue TV Broadcast signal, as it would have been switched off PERMANENTLY.
This in effect, renders the existing Analogue TV tuner in the TV Set null and void, and therefore the Analogue TV set is actually now just a PC Monitor, rendered incapable of receiving ANY digital TV broadcast signals if it is NOT connected to a DSTV Decoder / Digital TV Broadcast Set-Top Box, via either an RF Aerial cable, Composite AV cable, S-Video AV cable, Component AV cable or HDMI cable.
Without such a connection as detailed above, the Analogue TV Tuner equipped TV set would simply display a BLANK SIGNAL as it would no longer be receiving ANY analogue TV broadcast signal, IN PERPETUITY THEREAFTER, as from 1 November 2011.
This original switch-off date of the Analogue TV Broadcast signal was then further revised in Government Gazette, No. 35014 (No. 97), of 7 February 2012, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005), which is an Amendment of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy, issued under Government Gazette No. 31408 (No. 958), on 8 September 2008, after consideration of submissions by stakeholders on the amendments proposed by the Department of Communications in August 2011.
G. 35014 GoN 97 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electro...oadcasting-digital-migration-policy-amendment
I draw your attention to Paragraph 3, (Substitution of Paragraphs 2 & 4 of the Foreward by the Minister of Telecommunications), in which it states that the Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) policy has to meet the ITU resolution that all countries in Region 1 (which INCLUDES South Africa), should complete their migration from an Analogue to a Digital TV Broadcast signal by 17 June 2015.
It further emphasizes that the looming switch-on date of the digital TV Broadcast signal should occur 'in the last quarter of 2012' - which is already one year LATER than the originally specified date of 1 November 2011.
In Paragraph 5, (Substitution of Sub-Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 of Paragraph 2 of the Executive Summary of the Policy), it re-emphasizes that the Switch-On date of the digital TV Broadcast signal should occur 'in the last quarter of 2012', and that the date of the Switch-Off of the analogue TV Broadcast signal 'would be determined by the Minister of Communications, after engaging with the Cabinet and relevant broadcasting sector stakeholders'.
It also states that 'National broadcasting digital signal coverage shall be extended in a phased manner, covering 74% of the population by early 2012, and 95% by the end of 2013'.
In Paragraph 9, (Substitution of Paragraphs 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.2.1 to 2.2.4 of the Policy), please take careful and cognisant note of the revised Paragraph 2.1.3 which, inter-alia, states the following:
"In order for households to continue to receive television services on their current analogue TV sets, after the analogue signal is switched off, set-top boxes (STB's), which convert the digital signals into analogue signals, are required."
And here is the REAL clincher, as found in Paragraph 12, (Substitution of Paragraphs 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 of the Policy), which states the following in the revised Paragraph 3.3.1:
"Government is committed to meet the deadline for analogue switch-off by 17 June 2015, in line with the relevant ITU resolution."
"Taking into account the different processes which need to be completed before digital switch-on, government has decided that the digital signal should be switched on by the end of the 2012/2013 financial year."
"A final date for the commencement of the dual illumination period will be announced by the Minister of Communications, after engaging with cabinet and all relevant stakeholders, including the broadcasting industry."
"The date for the final switch-off of the analogue signal will similarly be announced by the Minister of Communications, after engaging with cabinet and other relevant stakeholders and assessing extent of the take-up, by audiences, of the of the necessary equipment to facilitate universal access to broadcasting services."
The revised Paragraph 3.3.2 also states as follows:
The government recognizes that the aggressive dual illumination period in South Africa will be 'a significant challenge'. However, this shorter period provides a range of national benefits, including the following:
(a) The best economic outcome through bringing forward the digital dividend and reducing cost duplication during the transitional period;
(b) Opportunity to meet the global ITU-RRC Agenda for Digital Migration;
(c) Bridging the 'digital divide' between technology haves / and have-nots; and
(d) Support for the emerging digital broadcasting industry, in terms of the deployment of new services, content and equipment.
Ten days later, on 17 February 2012, yet MORE revisions were published in The Government Gazette, No. 35051 (No. 124), which documented a substitution of Paragraphs 1 to 18 of Government Gazette, No. 35014 (No. 97), of 7 February 2012, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005), which in itself was an Amendment of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy, issued under Government Gazette No. 31408 (No. 958), on 8 September 2008, after consideration of submissions by stakeholders on the amendments proposed by the Department of Communications in August 2011.
G. 35051 GoN 124 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electro...dcasting-digital-migration-policy-amendment-0
Paragraph 4 (Substitution of Sub-Paragraphs 4, 6, 8 and 9 of Paragraph 1 of the Executive Summary of the Policy), states the following:
"Digital migration begins with the 'switch-on' of broadcasting digital transmission signals and ends with the 'switch-off' of analogue ones. Until analogue switch-off occurs, there is a period of 'dual illumination', during which both analogue and digital services are simultaneously broadcasted."
On 14 December 2012, in The Government Gazette, No. 36000 (No. 1070), the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), published their Digital Migration Resolutions which, inter-alia, stated the following in Paragraph 12 - Transitional Provisions:
G. 36000 GoN 1070 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electronic-communications-act-regulations-digital-migration-0
(6) At the end of the dual illumination period, the broadcasting service licences and radio frequency spectrum licences, held by each of the terrestrial television broadcasting service licensees at that time, will be amended, in terms of the relevant provisions of the Act and the Process and Procedures Regulations, to reflect the fact that those terrestrial television broadcasting service licensees have ceased analogue broadcasting and are no longer authorised to utilise the radio frequency spectrum, which was previously assigned to them, for analogue broadcasting purposes.
The means that the end of the 'dual illumination' period, as per the global ITU-RRC Agenda for Digital Migration, should have occurred on or before 17 June 2015, which was the mandated cut-off date for the cessation of all analogue TV broadcast signals in South Africa.
This has yet to happen - over 18 months AFTER the deadline thereof!
(Continued in Part 2 below)
G. 31408 GoN 958 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electronic-communications-act-broadcasting-digital-migration-policy
This states that the initial switch-over from the existing analogue TV broadcast signal to a DIGITAL TV Broadcast signal, would happen by 1 November 2008, after which a period of 'dual-illumination' of both Broadcast signals would occur for 3 years, after which the analogue TV Broadcast signal would be switched off permanently, as from 1 November 2011.
This is in accordance with the 2006 Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC-06) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which resolved that ALL countries of Europe, Africa (INCLUDING South Africa), Middle East as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran, would migrate from the existing analogue TV broadcast signal to the digital TV Broadcast signal by 17 June 2015.
(see Paragraph 1.1.1 and 3.3.1 of The Government Gazette, No. 31408 (No. 958), of 8 September 2008, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of Section 3 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005).
This would then allow ONLY the digital TV Broadcast signal to be transmitted to ALL households in South Africa, and be received by means of obtaining a digital TV broadcast Set-Top Box, in order to decode the digital TV Broadcast signal and allow it to be displayed on an analogue TV Tuner equipped TV Set (one NOT having a built-in Digital TV Tuner incorporated in it).
Without such a digital TV broadcast Set-Top Box being connected to ANY existing analogue TV Tuner equipped TV set, the viewer would therefore be unable to receive or display ANY TV broadcasts whatsoever, as the TV Set's analogue Tuner would no longer be receiving an Analogue TV Broadcast signal, as it would have been switched off PERMANENTLY.
This in effect, renders the existing Analogue TV tuner in the TV Set null and void, and therefore the Analogue TV set is actually now just a PC Monitor, rendered incapable of receiving ANY digital TV broadcast signals if it is NOT connected to a DSTV Decoder / Digital TV Broadcast Set-Top Box, via either an RF Aerial cable, Composite AV cable, S-Video AV cable, Component AV cable or HDMI cable.
Without such a connection as detailed above, the Analogue TV Tuner equipped TV set would simply display a BLANK SIGNAL as it would no longer be receiving ANY analogue TV broadcast signal, IN PERPETUITY THEREAFTER, as from 1 November 2011.
This original switch-off date of the Analogue TV Broadcast signal was then further revised in Government Gazette, No. 35014 (No. 97), of 7 February 2012, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005), which is an Amendment of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy, issued under Government Gazette No. 31408 (No. 958), on 8 September 2008, after consideration of submissions by stakeholders on the amendments proposed by the Department of Communications in August 2011.
G. 35014 GoN 97 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electro...oadcasting-digital-migration-policy-amendment
I draw your attention to Paragraph 3, (Substitution of Paragraphs 2 & 4 of the Foreward by the Minister of Telecommunications), in which it states that the Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) policy has to meet the ITU resolution that all countries in Region 1 (which INCLUDES South Africa), should complete their migration from an Analogue to a Digital TV Broadcast signal by 17 June 2015.
It further emphasizes that the looming switch-on date of the digital TV Broadcast signal should occur 'in the last quarter of 2012' - which is already one year LATER than the originally specified date of 1 November 2011.
In Paragraph 5, (Substitution of Sub-Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 of Paragraph 2 of the Executive Summary of the Policy), it re-emphasizes that the Switch-On date of the digital TV Broadcast signal should occur 'in the last quarter of 2012', and that the date of the Switch-Off of the analogue TV Broadcast signal 'would be determined by the Minister of Communications, after engaging with the Cabinet and relevant broadcasting sector stakeholders'.
It also states that 'National broadcasting digital signal coverage shall be extended in a phased manner, covering 74% of the population by early 2012, and 95% by the end of 2013'.
In Paragraph 9, (Substitution of Paragraphs 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.2.1 to 2.2.4 of the Policy), please take careful and cognisant note of the revised Paragraph 2.1.3 which, inter-alia, states the following:
"In order for households to continue to receive television services on their current analogue TV sets, after the analogue signal is switched off, set-top boxes (STB's), which convert the digital signals into analogue signals, are required."
And here is the REAL clincher, as found in Paragraph 12, (Substitution of Paragraphs 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 of the Policy), which states the following in the revised Paragraph 3.3.1:
"Government is committed to meet the deadline for analogue switch-off by 17 June 2015, in line with the relevant ITU resolution."
"Taking into account the different processes which need to be completed before digital switch-on, government has decided that the digital signal should be switched on by the end of the 2012/2013 financial year."
"A final date for the commencement of the dual illumination period will be announced by the Minister of Communications, after engaging with cabinet and all relevant stakeholders, including the broadcasting industry."
"The date for the final switch-off of the analogue signal will similarly be announced by the Minister of Communications, after engaging with cabinet and other relevant stakeholders and assessing extent of the take-up, by audiences, of the of the necessary equipment to facilitate universal access to broadcasting services."
The revised Paragraph 3.3.2 also states as follows:
The government recognizes that the aggressive dual illumination period in South Africa will be 'a significant challenge'. However, this shorter period provides a range of national benefits, including the following:
(a) The best economic outcome through bringing forward the digital dividend and reducing cost duplication during the transitional period;
(b) Opportunity to meet the global ITU-RRC Agenda for Digital Migration;
(c) Bridging the 'digital divide' between technology haves / and have-nots; and
(d) Support for the emerging digital broadcasting industry, in terms of the deployment of new services, content and equipment.
Ten days later, on 17 February 2012, yet MORE revisions were published in The Government Gazette, No. 35051 (No. 124), which documented a substitution of Paragraphs 1 to 18 of Government Gazette, No. 35014 (No. 97), of 7 February 2012, issued by the Department of Communications, in terms of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005), which in itself was an Amendment of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy, issued under Government Gazette No. 31408 (No. 958), on 8 September 2008, after consideration of submissions by stakeholders on the amendments proposed by the Department of Communications in August 2011.
G. 35051 GoN 124 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electro...dcasting-digital-migration-policy-amendment-0
Paragraph 4 (Substitution of Sub-Paragraphs 4, 6, 8 and 9 of Paragraph 1 of the Executive Summary of the Policy), states the following:
"Digital migration begins with the 'switch-on' of broadcasting digital transmission signals and ends with the 'switch-off' of analogue ones. Until analogue switch-off occurs, there is a period of 'dual illumination', during which both analogue and digital services are simultaneously broadcasted."
On 14 December 2012, in The Government Gazette, No. 36000 (No. 1070), the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), published their Digital Migration Resolutions which, inter-alia, stated the following in Paragraph 12 - Transitional Provisions:
G. 36000 GoN 1070 - link available here:
http://www.gov.za/documents/electronic-communications-act-regulations-digital-migration-0
(6) At the end of the dual illumination period, the broadcasting service licences and radio frequency spectrum licences, held by each of the terrestrial television broadcasting service licensees at that time, will be amended, in terms of the relevant provisions of the Act and the Process and Procedures Regulations, to reflect the fact that those terrestrial television broadcasting service licensees have ceased analogue broadcasting and are no longer authorised to utilise the radio frequency spectrum, which was previously assigned to them, for analogue broadcasting purposes.
The means that the end of the 'dual illumination' period, as per the global ITU-RRC Agenda for Digital Migration, should have occurred on or before 17 June 2015, which was the mandated cut-off date for the cessation of all analogue TV broadcast signals in South Africa.
This has yet to happen - over 18 months AFTER the deadline thereof!
(Continued in Part 2 below)
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