Johannesburg - Stakeholders dealing with the digital migration software have been urged to finalise their agreements so that the manufacturing of Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) can commence in earnest.
Minister of Communications Siphiwe Nyanda said on Tuesday the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has released the STB specifications and has approved STB hardware, which is a positive development.
"We therefore urge all parties dealing in software related issues to conclude their agreements so that manufacturing of STBs can commence in earnest.
"This will run concurrently with the finalisation of the STB manufacturing strategy by the Department of Communications," he said.
On 1 November 2008, the country officially switched-on the digital signal in line with converting its television broadcasting signals from analogue to digital technology. The analogue signal is expected to be switched-off on 1 November 2011.
In order to receive the digital signal on current analogue TV sets, households will need to purchase STBs that convert the digital signal into analogue signal.
