The National Association of Manufacturers in Electronics Components (Namec) has thrown another spanner into SA's already-lagging digital TV migration plan, as it wants the entire standards debate to be started from scratch.
While the much-delayed migration process is already unlikely to meet SA's switchover deadline, the association has vowed to take its protest to the highest level of government and apply pressure until the discussion is re-opened.
SA is set to finally have certainty about which digital standard the country will use to migrate from analogue broadcasting, with communications minister Roy Padayachie expected to make an announcement in the next few days.
However, the country's digital migration could be set back again as Namec wants to join forces with unions to lobby various government departments, Cabinet, President Jacob Zuma and National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) to re-open the debate around which standard the country should use.
Press reports have pre-empted Padayachie's official announcement, expected before the weekend, to be in accordance with the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) November decision to use the DVB-T2 standard. The minister was initially expected to make an announcement in the middle of last month.
However, Namec chairman Keith Thabo argues that the decision SA will make is on the back of a flawed process that does not take into account the possible economic benefits of using the Brazilian upgrade to the Japanese ISDB-T standard.
Thabo says SA's decision is a long-term choice that could aid the country in developing its economy through the creation of local electronic and software companies. In light of the potential economic benefits, a further delay would be justified, he says.
Thabo adds that the association, which represents about 80 emerging electronics and software companies in SA, will present its submission - arguing for implementation of ISDB-T - to the minister this week. He says the association will lobby government and Nedlac until the debate is re-opened.
Winding path
SA's path to digital broadcasting has been fraught with several delays since initially choosing, more than four years ago, to turn on digital TV using the European DVB-T standard.
At least R700 million has been spent by industry gearing up for switchover. Sentech has been rolling out DVB-T transmitters across SA and aims to have 30% of the country covered by March.
In addition, local set-top box manufacturers also geared up in anticipation of having to produce the 10 million decoders South Africans will need to convert digital signal for viewing on older analogue sets.
However, the entire process ground to a halt early last year when former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda decided to research the Brazilian ISDB-T standard to determine whether it would be more beneficial for South Africans and for economic growth.
Nyanda's decision resulted in Altech CEO Craig Venter threatening to sue government if it went ahead with implementation of ISDB-T. Venter warned late last year that the move would cost SA millions and waste at least three years.
In November, SADC communication ministers elected to use DVB-T2, an upgrade to DVB-T, as the digital standard for migration from analogue broadcasting. The region set November 2013 as a deadline to turn off the old format signal. The international turn-off is in 2015.
The SADC decision does contain an escape clause, which allows for the use of any other standard, as long as it complies with stipulations included in a 2006 agreement signed in Geneva (GE06), under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union.
Interference
Steven Ambrose, MD of WWW Strategy, says there is “absolutely no apparent reason for all the confusion... the lack of official comment makes no sense whatsoever”.
Ambrose adds: “Too much rests on the right decision for the region and SA, as the technology and spectrum used for digital TV will directly impact SA's telecommunication sector going forward.” He explains that spectrum can be freed up for mobile technologies such as LTE, which will become crucial in the next few years.
“It is going to be a huge undertaking to complete the switchover in the time available, and all these delays and lack of clear policy are damaging the reputation of the government and the country.
“The entire process reeks of political interference and lack of clarity. As this process is going to cost the taxpayer billions of rands, there is no excuse for this behaviour,” says Ambrose.
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