Cape Town – Communications Minister Faith Muthambi says despite challenges, the department has reached several milestones in the digital migration project.
Briefing the Portfolio Committee on Communications on Thursday, the Minister said she was satisfied with the progress that has been made by the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project office since 2015 in preparing communities for the soon-to-be-announced digital switch-on and analogue switch-off date.
“I think we have achieved a lot of milestones. Amongst others, this includes the gazetting of the Cabinet approved Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy in 2015, which enabled the provision of set-top boxes and accessories to five million indigent television owning households,” she said.
The DTT project office has commenced with the phased-in approach of set-top boxes. Registration for government subsidised set-top boxes have taken place in four provinces -- the Northern Cape in the Square Kilometre Array area and neighbouring towns, Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
After Cabinet approval in December 2015, the Communications Ministry announced the dual illumination commencement period on 1 February 2016. Dual illumination is the period in which both analogue and digital terrestrial television signals are allowed to be transmitted before the analogue signal is switched off.
“We also conducted bilateral engagements with our SADC [Southern African Development Community] neighbouring countries and we have signed agreements to eliminate possible issues of TV broadcast frequency interference post the season of the analogue protection deadline of 17 June 2015.
“We did this guided by the SADC protocol of transport, communication and meteorology signed by former President Nelson Mandela.
“Articles 22 and 23 of the SADC protocol provides for member states to engage and deepen their cooperation and harmonisation in the areas of infrastructure and services,” Minister Muthambi said.
Minister Muthambi said since the commencement of the roll-out process in December, the SABC has made four channels available on the DTT platforms and all radio stations available, with eTV also making six channels available.
She said as at 31 August 2016, the average overall installation target of 90.7% was recorded in the Square Kilometre Array towns.
“As an assurance, the project management office conducted two mock switch-offs of high power analogue transmitters in Carnarvon on 23 and 24 June 2016.
“A second mock switch-off was successfully carried out on the low power transformers on 7 and 8 July 2016.
“Only one additional customer was registered during the period of the switch-off, showing a strong indication that all households in the area have been successfully migrated from analogue to digital,” she said.
She said the department was currently planning for an analogue transmitter switch-off event.
In terms of the policy, the switch-off date of the analogue signal and switch-on date of the digital signal will be determined by the Ministry in consultation with the Cabinet, the Minister said.
“I must also raise the issue of challenges and solutions of inadequate funds. The DTT project is being rolled out despite these challenges, which to us are minor,” she said.
Minister Muthambi said other challenges relate to funding for the public awareness campaign, lack of funding for the dual illumination and the lack of funding for the contact centre. – SAnews.gov.za
