By Nthambeleni Gabara
Maseru - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has arrived in Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, for bilateral engagements regarding mitigating cross border radio frequency spectrum interference as a result of implementing the digital migration programme.
The bilateral engagements between Minister Muthambi and her Lesotho counterpart, Communications, Science and Technology Minister Khotso Letsatsi, will centre on the potential frequency spectrum interference as South Africa migrates from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Last week, Minister Muthambi met Botswana’s Transport and Communications Minister, Tshenolo Mabeo, where the two agreed to cooperate in mitigating cross border radio frequency spectrum interference.
The Minister is expected to also visit Swaziland on 3 June before going to Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe for bilateral talks on the same issue.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline to migrate to digital broadcasting is fast approaching, however South Africa is not expected to meet it.
Minister Muthambi said in the Department of Communications Budget Vote, that the country will not meet the 17 June 2015 analogue switch off date as set by the ITU.
“We are ready to consult with Cabinet on the digital signal switch-on date. We will do all we can to ensure that the migration process commences during the second quarter of this financial year. We therefore, make a call to all stakeholders to work together with us to realise this objective,” she said at the time.
The consequence for countries who will not migrate from analogue signal by June 2015 is that they will not be protected against interference.
Over 156 countries signed an ITU agreement in 2006, to switch from analogue to digital transmission. As part of this binding treaty, the Geneva 2006 agreement set up a frequency plan for Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. All signatories committed to switch off analogue transmission by 2015.
The South African government has to date invested R3 billion in the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project which also covers digitising Sentech and SABC infrastructure, including its studios and cameras.
The main reason for the migration is to release valuable spectrum, which can be used for other services. Spectrum is scarce and it is therefore necessary to make efficient use of the spectrum available for more telecommunications and broadcasting services. -SAnews.gov.za
