SA is not ready to convert from an analogue to digital broadcasting system because licences have not been issued. There is also the possibility of changing standards and the issue of not enough money, Parliament heard yesterday.
In their presentations, the Department of Communications (DOC), national signal distributor Sentech, regulator ICASA and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) all explained what digital moves they have completed. However, they stated that the blame for the slipping timetable lies elsewhere.
In 2007, Cabinet decreed, at the prompting of then communications minister, the late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, that the country's aging broadcasting system would switch from analogue to digital during a three-year period starting 1 November 2008 and ending 1 November 2011.
All presentations noted that although SA is in a period of dual-illumination, when both analogue and digital TV signals are used together, it is not a reality as there are no set-top-boxes (STBs) available to the general population.
STBs are required to convert a digital signal for reception on analogue TV sets. The only STBs that have been built are those that have been used in a trial of 3 000 households by the SABC, etv and other privately owned broadcasters.
Robert Nkuna, the ICASA councillor dealing with this issue, said the regulator was ready for digital broadcasting migration. He noted that ICASA had completed the regulations, frequency plan, STB technical standards and broadcaster readiness.
However, the SABC stated it did not have a licence for its digital broadcasting yet.
National signal distributor Sentech said it was operating in contravention of ICASA regulations.
Sentech acting COO Dingane Dube said his company switched on a digital signal in November 2008 “so that the country would not be embarrassed”, but the regulations had not been drafted at the time.
“Now we find that we are operating in contravention of the regulations,” he added.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said it was unacceptable for a state-owned enterprise to operate in this manner. While regulations cannot be applied retroactively, the two organisations should make an effort to work closer together, she commented.
Communications committee chairperson Ismail Vadi (ANC) noted that he hoped a meeting, to be held this Friday, between the DOC, Sentech, ICASA and the SABC, would help sort out the apparent confusion over digital broadcasting.
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