Pretoria - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi will install the first batch of government subsidised set-top boxes (STBs) in Keimoes in the Northern Cape on Thursday.
Keimoes is located within the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) area, where the world's largest radio telescope will be built.
Over 2 400 households in the Northern Cape SKA area have registered to receive government STBs in line with government's commitment to provide five million indigent homeowners -- in possession of TV sets -- with free decoders.
The registration process was kick started by Minister Muthambi at a public event in Keimoes in October 2015. Government will distribute 23 000 STBs free of charge to the community around the SKA area.
“The installation of government's fully subsidised set-top-boxes starts here in the SKA area. Television viewing experience will never be the same for many households here in the Northern Cape," said Minister Muthambi.
“This progress marks a significant milestone of the Broadcasting Digital Migration project.
“The SKA area in the Northern Cape was identified as the place where the digital migration project will first be implemented. It is quite fitting that this rollout starts here, given the huge leap forward that the SKA represents in innovation and technological advancement.”
This is the first installation of STB in South Africa since the digital terrestrial television policy was gazetted in March 2015.
Towns around the SKA area include Brandvlei, Britstown, Calvinia, Carnavon, Fraserburg, Groblershoop, Kakamas, Keimoes, Kenhardt, Loeriesfontein, Marydale, Nieuwoudtville, Pofadder, Springbok, Sutherland, Vanwyksvlei, Victoria West and Williston.
The Department of Communications’ stakeholders will be present at this event. The South African Post Office, which is the distributing agent for the set-top-box devices on behalf of government, will also be onsite on the day to explain the process of registering TV households. – SAnews.gov.za
