Subscribe

Sentech switches on two more DTT sites

Simnikiwe Mzekandaba
By Simnikiwe Mzekandaba, IT in government editor
Johannesburg, 25 Aug 2015
Sentech plans to have 182 digital terrestrial television operation sites throughout SA.
Sentech plans to have 182 digital terrestrial television operation sites throughout SA.

Sentech's two recently switched on greenfield sites brings the number of SA's digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration transmitters to 180.

The broadcasting signals distributor announced two greenfield sites in Harrismith in the Free State and Ngqeleni in the Eastern Cape have been successfully switched on to ensure a digital terrestrial population coverage of 84.46%.

Greenfield sites are areas of land, usually agricultural or amenity land, which are being considered for urban development.

In March, Sentech said it had switched on 178 DTT sites. The two new Sentech sites form part of the four greenfield sites planned to be switched on for digital terrestrial coverage.

The addition of new transmitter sites will ensure maximum digital terrestrial coverage in the far lying areas of SA, says Sentech.

"It was once again a privilege to achieve the go live milestone for two new greenfield sites by end June 2015. Although the two sites are similar, the terrain and circumstance are vastly different and every site posed its own unique challenges," says Nicolaas Jobse, Sentech's DTT project manager.

ICT analyst Adrian Schofield says he is unsure of the significance of the two new sites that are now live.

"I was under the impression that Sentech had announced the completion of the switching on of its digital terrestrial transmitters in March 2015," he says.

Schofield adds: "I can only assume these greenfield sites are filling in the gaps in that coverage. However, until the supply of set-top-boxes is rolled out, there is little impact on South Africa's TV viewers."

Sentech says two other greenfield sites will be in Burgersfort in Limpopo and Holy Cross.

According to Sentech, the last two greenfield sites are expected to be on air by March 2016, which will increase the population coverage to 85.20% and geographical coverage to 58.91%.

Share