The Department of Communications (DOC) has admitted its digital terrestrial television (DTT) deadlines are ambitious, but says everything is on track to meet its early target.
Speaking yesterday during an interview with ITWeb, communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda said the department was on track to meet its November 2011 deadline. If that target is not achieved, it will be because of unanticipated factors, he noted.
“We've set our own timelines, which are a bit ambitious. The sub-continent has said 2013 for the end of the dual-illumination period, and they're giving themselves time to experiment, so that by the international community's 2015 deadline, the systems work. But we've set ourselves more ambitious targets.”
On 1 November 2008, the country officially switched on the digital signal in line with converting its television broadcasting signals from analogue to digital technology.
SA is in its three-year window of switching from the obsolete analogue broadcasting system to a new digital format that will allow a greater number of channels and more efficient use of spectrum. SA intends to turn off the analogue signal in 2011, ahead of the global deadline of 2015.
Nyanda said the timelines were informed by public and private opinion, and the department was dedicated to meeting its target.
“When Cabinet decides on something, those decisions aren't taken lightly. Targets are always adhered to. There may be practicalities, which impinge upon targets being achieved, but generally we would like to pursue those targets. They are not targets that Cabinet has thumb-sucked - they have been informed by people in the sector, the department and players.”
Nyanda said there would be challenges and strategies and polices needed to be implemented to ensure “the burden does not rest fully on the poor people”.
Cutting costs
Government will provide funding for the five million poorest households to assist them to buy set-top boxes, which will allow them to watch digital TV. Last year, Cabinet approved R2.45 billion for the subsidisation of the decoders to the poorest households, with the expectation that the final costs of the units would be between R400 and R700.
Nyanda stated that cost was always a top concern and had greatly informed the department's decisions.
“Operating the monologue signal will be expensive - that is why Sentech will carry the burden of this dual-illumination until the switch off - but if we go beyond it, then there are cost implications for Sentech. It means upgrading or still maintaining that signal at a great expense to the taxpayer.”
Questions outstanding
Nyanda noted government had recognised the process is complex and would continue to address the many debates which have come up.
“There are going to have to be new decoders to decode the signal, there have got to be set-top boxes and there are all sorts of complications arising from provisions by ICASA on multiplexes. And it's all those things that provide the risks. People have got to ready themselves; the broadcasters have got to ready themselves.”
He added that questions around signal providers would have to be addressed. Changes to the Electronic Communications Act now state anyone can provide signals and these are all debates which form part of the process.
“There is pay-to-view, which also comes with its own complexities into the picture. Who gets what multiplexes and who provides the signal? Who is the multiplex operator, generally?” he added.
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