Following numerous delays to SA's migration process, manufacturers have received their first order to produce the first set-top boxes (STBs) in the country.
Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) CEO Zami Nkosi told ITWeb the Department of Communications (DOC) has placed an order for 1.5 million STBs for now.
This order forms part of government's plans to subsidise five million poor TV-owning households by providing free STBs, as the country prepares to switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT).
According to Nkosi, production of STBs began between the end of August and early September.
No clarity
Earlier this year, USAASA awarded the R4.3 billion tender to manufacture STBs to 26 companies, which were bidding to be sole producers of the digital migration process.
This move was met with resistance as manufacturers were left unsure as to how they would be contracted to produce the STBs.
Nkosi was also unclear as to which manufacturers have been contracted to produce government's first order of STBs. "Only SABC-certified companies at the time of ordering. There is an internal allocation model guided by section 217 of the Constitution."
Attempts by ITWeb to contact some of the manufacturers to determine if they have been contracted to produce STBs were unsuccessful.
The DOC's DTT programme manager, Dr Fhatuwani Mutuvhi, also noted the department is unaware of which manufacturers are currently producing the STBs, as the DOC only places orders with USAASA, which then contracts the STB producers.
Mutuvhi says USAASA confirmed the manufacturing process of STBs is under way, following the appointment of manufacturers by USAASA.
"The South African Post Office will start with the registration process of poor TV-owning households in the Northern Cape next month and this will be followed by the registration in the border-lying areas across the country, including Skelpadnest in Thabazimbi," he said.
ICT analyst Adrian Schofield notes it is good to hear the long "overdue" process of production of STBs has finally started.
"Only when STBs are installed in homes can we truly say the migration process is under way. Only when the process is finished can we expect reallocation of the spectrum that will be released when analogue signals are switched off. Only then can we hope for the benefits of the digital dividend to be realised," he says.
Limpopo first
Although SA missed the International Telecommunication Union's 17 June deadline for all countries to switch from analogue to digital signal, the DOC has finally committed to providing free STBs for digital migration.
DOC minister Faith Muthambi announced poor TV-owning households in Nzhelele, Limpopo, will be the first to receive free STBs as the area prepares to switch from analogue to a digital television signal.
According to Muthambi, the DOC has prioritised SA's border-lying areas to be the first to receive STBs and migrate to digital television.
"Nzhelele is not far away from the Beitbridge border; we've indicated as government that we are going to prioritise the border-lying areas in order to protect the array and the country from radio signal interference."
In terms of migration of the rest of the country, Muthambi has given no indication of when the switch from analogue to digital television will actually occur.
Last month, Muthambi and her team told Parliament DTT will be implemented in the next 18 to 24 months.
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