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.<\/p>\n
Since October 2008 Sentech has been operating a dual broadcasting system — both analogue and digital are employed.<\/p>\n
The current analogue transmitters were to be switched off in November next year.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But, since then the DBVT standard had evolved with technological developments and improvements to become the DVBT-2 standard.<\/p>\n
Thus, DBVT had become almost obsolete and a new standard had to be adopted.<\/p>\n
At the same time, a so-called Japanese standard, called the ISDBT, had been developed.<\/p>\n
Brazil had adopted this “open source” standard and adapted it to its own requirements.<\/p>\n
There was very little difference between the technical capabilities of the DVBT-2 and ISDBT standards.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Its brief included looking at socio-economic benefits and what industry had already invested in relation to the DVBT standard.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n