Pretoria – Communications Minister Faith Muthambi says the electronic manufacturing sector must gear up to take advantage of the opportunities that will come from the digital migration process.
Minister Muthambi was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Electronic Manufacturers Working Group of the South African Communications Forum (SACF) in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The meeting focused on manufacturer’s involvement in the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project as well as informing the Minister of challenges and opportunities faced by the industry.
The industry will be needed to manufacture set top boxes (STBs) that comply with the specifications of government.
Set top boxes are devices that will allow analogue television owners to watch digital television signals when South Africa’s broadcast migration happens.
The manufacturers at the meeting said they were committed to assisting the Minister as the country switches from analogue to digital broadcasting and suggested ways to speed up delivery of the project delivery as well as reduce costs.
In an interview with SAnews, Muzi Makhaye, representing the manufacturing sector, said: “We are definitely very happy with the outcomes of the meeting, the sentiments expressed by both the Minister and our members are very good for the growth of the electronic sector.”
Asked if they are ready to manufacture set top boxes, Makhaye said: “South Africans need to understand that the digital migration era is upon them. As soon as the Minister announces the date to launch DTT, television viewers must also be ready and being ready means that they all need to have the right STB’s so that they continue to receive the television services.
“As manufacturers we are ready to manufacture STBs that comply with the specifications outlined by government, so we are very much happy.”
Minister Muthambi said government was committed to supporting and working with the manufacturing sector for the development of the country.
She added that she would like to meet with the manufacturers on a quarterly basis.
Government’s nine point plan
The Minister reiterated government’s the nine point plan to ignite growth and create jobs in South Africa.
The nine point plan was announced by President Jacob Zuma during his State of the Nation Address earlier this year.
It includes revitalising the agriculture and agro-processing value chain; advancing beneficiation or adding value to the country’s mineral wealth,; more effective implementation of a higher impact Industrial Policy Action Plan; encouraging private sector investment; moderating workplace conflict; unlocking the potential of SMMEs, cooperatives, township and rural enterprises; state reform and boosting the role of state owned companies; ICT infrastructure or broadband roll out; water, sanitation and transport infrastructure as well as Operation Phakisa aimed growing the ocean economy and other sectors. – SAnews.gov.za
