Pretoria-South Africa is a step closer to realising its goal of migrating to digital television.
Monday marks the start of the dual illumination period which Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi described as ‘truly exciting’.
“The picture is now coming together; from gazetting the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy on the 18th of March 2015, to the first installation of set-top-boxes on 17th of December 2015 in the Northern Cape.
“We are now in the dual illumination phase; it’s truly exciting. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point, but it’s been quite a fulfilling journey,” she said.
Dual illumination (simulcast) is the period when the new digital television signal and the old analogue signal are transmitted at the same time.
The Minister said this period further seeks to ensure that all citizens of South Africa have ample time to install the digital set-top-boxes (STBs) required to receive digital television transmissions.
Minister Muthambi said at the end of the Dual Illumination period, all analogue television broadcasts will cease, yielding a digital dividend that will be used to launch new broadband and broadcasting services.
Since the beginning of the registration process last year in October, the uptake of set-top-boxes is steadily growing.
Registration in the Northern Cape and Free State Provinces is recording an improved uptake from 167 and 250 daily registrations for the reception devices and accessories.
The total installations of devices in the Northern Cape is currently at 64% of the registered TV-owning households.
Government will distribute five million free STBs. The next distribution and installation process for STBs will be in the Free State in February.-SAnews.gov.za
