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Digital migration to be reviewed, again

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 25 Mar 2015
Sentech's role in migrating SA to digital TV is set to form part of a review.
Sentech's role in migrating SA to digital TV is set to form part of a review.

SA's much-delayed move to digital TV is facing yet another hurdle as the Department of Communications (DOC) reviews the entire process - a move commentators say will cost the ICT sector dearly.

DOC acting DG Donald Liphoko explains the department needs to make sure the work done by implementing entities - such as Sentech - is in keeping with the recently-gazetted, and final version, of the Broadcasting Digital Migration policy.

Liphoko adds the work of different departments involved - the DOC and Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) - needs to be coordinated so that all underlying implementation entities "are on the same page. It does require that we look at the details."

Bad timing

Ovum analyst Richard Hurst says the endless delays to migration put SA in the running to finish the race last. The International Telecommunication Union's deadline for migration, when it will cease to protect analogue broadcast, is mid-June.

Hurst is not surprised government is reviewing the programme, adding the entire process has not been characterised by a sense of urgency. He asks whether the latest process will add any benefit, or just muddy the water further.

The constant delays have already cost the sector because the digital dividend - which would provide more spectrum - has yet to be freed up, and opportunities to create jobs have been lost, says Hurst.

The Democratic Alliance's shadow minister of telecommunications and postal services, Marian Shinn, adds the electronic manufacturing industry must be thinking "what the stuff is this?" She says government should not be reviewing any of the processes at this late hour, noting "there needs to be a good reason behind this engineered perpetual delay".

Shinn says a review would be economically catastrophic for the ICT sector, setting it back years and years. "It's turned into a bloody circus."

Sensible action

However, says Liphoko, government's review process is a prudent move to head off legal challenges, and it does not intend delaying migration any further. Moving to digital TV has been on the cards since 2006, but was derailed at the end of 2012 after a court wrangle between etv and government over set-top box controls. The amended policy has finally put this matter to rest with the DOC deciding there will be controls, but no encryption.

Liphoko says the review, for example, aims to ensure that when the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) finally awards the tender to manufacture set-top boxes, this is in line with the gazetted policy. This tender, which should have already been awarded, is at the centre of a spat between the DOC and USAASA over which entity should handle it.

Solly Mokoetle, programme head of digital terrestrial television within minister Faith Muthambi's office, has reportedly said the tender process for the supply of at least five million free decoders should be handled by the department. However, USAASA has taken umbrage with this statement, arguing Mokoetle has no right to make decisions around an entity that falls under the DTPS.

Liphoko says government's aim is not to undo the work done by entities such as USAASA and Sentech, but to make sure government gets migration right, although there may be some negotiated changes. "We're going to avoid undoing the work that has been done. We only have one shot at this. We can't redo this."

However, Liphoko could not say how long the review would take, but noted National Treasury's chief procurement officer will be brought on board to ensure quality assurance. Government has yet to announce a digital turn on date and an analogue turn off date, but Liphoko says it will continue to move with speed.

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