Digital TV delay
This was due to a review of the technical standards for set top boxes currently being undertaken, he told the National Assembly’s communications committee.
Since October 2008 Sentech has been operating a dual broadcasting system — both analogue and digital are employed.
The current analogue transmitters were to be switched off in November next year.
Nyanda said Sentech had therefore already invested in infrastructure compliant with the European DVBT standard, in line with a World Radio Conference decision for the region, as well as a Cabinet decision.
But, since then the DBVT standard had evolved with technological developments and improvements to become the DVBT-2 standard.
Thus, DBVT had become almost obsolete and a new standard had to be adopted.
At the same time, a so-called Japanese standard, called the ISDBT, had been developed.
Brazil had adopted this “open source” standard and adapted it to its own requirements.
There was very little difference between the technical capabilities of the DVBT-2 and ISDBT standards.
At the Southern African Community Development (SADC) ministers’ conference some three weeks ago, it was decided to establish a SADC task team of experts to investigate all aspects of the standards to determine the most suitable for the region within two months.
Its brief included looking at socio-economic benefits and what industry had already invested in relation to the DVBT standard.
“So, that in short is where we are. We are conducting a review in order that in the end… it is to the benefit of South Africans, the consumers, the industry, SMMEs are advantaged, and our country benefits,” Nyanda said.
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