While the Department of Communications (DOC) waits for the Constitutional Court's verdict to determine the technical specifications for subsidised digital TV decoders, it continues to lead public awareness campaigns in border-lying towns.
Households in these areas require the use of encrypted set-top boxes (STBs) for digital migration, and therefore are not inhibited by the pending court judgement.
After missing the 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union for all countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting, the DOC began the registration process for STBs required to transmit digital signals.
The DOC, which is in charge of SA's broadcasting digital migration, prioritised households in border-lying areas where analogue causes the greatest interference. These towns are in provinces such as Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Free State, as well as Limpopo.
On Sunday, the DOC in partnership with its stakeholders handed out STBs to residents of various towns in Limpopo.
According to the DOC, the current average monthly registrations for STBs processed by the post office in Limpopo for the period 1 to 31 March is 5 550.
The department has projected 585 840 households qualify for STBs in that province.
Addressing residents, new communications minister Ayanda Dlodlo said the primary objective of digital migration is to clear the radio frequency spectrum currently occupied by broadcasters, and thus facilitate the provision of wireless mobile broadband services and other innovative applications that benefit communities.
"The television viewing experience of qualifying households will also never be the same again, once the government-subsidised STBs have been installed. They will be able to enjoy improved picture and sound quality," said Dlodlo.
DOC acting DG Basani Baloyi encouraged the community to visit their local post office branch to register for STBs.
He pointed out the benefits of having access to TV and radio as an educational tool.
"Once children in rural communities can watch educational TV channels and listen to radio like those living in urban areas, their performance at school will also improve," said Baloyi.
Government has committed to giving out five million subsidised STBs to poor TV-owning households.
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