Mobile TV confusion
Draft regulations for a mobile television service in South Africa were recently gazetted by the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA), effectively restarting processes surrounding MultiChoice’s DStv Mobile service.
Within the regulations ICASA prescribes a number of guidelines for the broadcast of mobile television services locally. This includes allowances for only two mobile television operators in South Africa and the stipulation that these services will not feature a return path, meaning that no data services can be attached to local mobile television offerings.
ICASA has also revealed that mobile television operators will have only 6 months from the issuance of mobile television broadcast licences to begin broadcast services across the range of spectrum allocated to them. Failure to do so may result in a license withdrawal.
SABC allowances
The draft regulations also make provision for public broadcasting services. According to the stipulations the holder of a radio frequency spectrum license is obliged to “set aside at least twenty percent within the relevant mobile TV multiplex [spectrum] for the provision of public broadcast services by the SABC”, failure to comply will result in a fine of R750,000.
This raises a number of questions regarding which party will shoulder the infrastructure costs. DStv Mobile, the biggest prospective player in the mobile TV market, will undoubtedly have to invest large amounts of capital into preparing the DVB-H mobile infrastructure required to broadcast. If the SABC is permitted to broadcast through these services it may appear to be financially unfair or anti-competitive.
ICASA spokesman Josias Mathiba clarified that “we are not saying that the 20% capacity must be left dormant but that since the Authority is required to protect the integrity and viability of the public broadcaster… the licensee must be able to set aside that capacity to be used for providing public broadcasting services.”
“It means the licensee must make arrangements with the public broadcaster to source content to be used in filling up the capacity,” continued Mathiba.
It was also confirmed that the SABC will not be required to invest in any mobile TV infrastructure because it would broadcast as part of the license holder’s channel package.
In addition the SABC will not be required to apply for a mobile television broadcast licence and will not be required to pay for the privilege of this service.
This guideline also suggests that public broadcast licence fees (similar to television licence fees) may be required of mobile TV subscribers but Mathiba could not confirm this.
A DStv Mobile spokesperson could not comment on how this stipulation may affect the company’s service, adding only that “we are currently reviewing [the ICASA Draft regulations] and are therefore not in a position to answer questions at the moment”.
Positive outlook
ICASA appears to be forging ahead with regards to mobile television which is good news for the pay-TV sector as according to MultiChoice time is of the essence. In September head of DStv Mobile Mark Rayner was quoted as saying that if ICASA did not succeed in issuing broadcast licences by the end of the calendar year then a mobile TV launch in time for the 2010 FIFA world cup appeared doubtful.
Based on the progress achieved by the publication of these draft regulations it may be possible for ICASA to licence the major industry players within this time frame.
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