As SA is gearing up to turn on digital terrestrial television (DTTV) later this year, ITWeb wraps up key and interesting facts about the transition.
1. SA is migrating using the European DVB-T2 standard, which is 50% more efficient than any other - this means more space for broadband, and more TV stations.
2. Switch-on, which has been delayed several times, should finally happen in the third quarter of this year.
3. DTTV is the most significant change to terrestrial broadcasting since TV was launched in SA in 1976.
4. Switch-off is set for the end of 2013, about 18 months before the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) stops protecting analogue signal, which means countries will not be able to rely on the ITU if analogue broadcast suffers interference from across the border.
5. To watch DTTV, you will need either a new TV with a built-in digital tuner, or a set-top box to decode the signal.
6. HD and HD-ready TVs will not pick up digital signal. HD is an image quality specification, and has nothing to do with signal transmission.
7. TVs on the market with built-in DB-T2 digital tuners may not work when digital is turned on, as that will depend on final specifications being wrapped up, which should be in the next few weeks, so hang on if you are planning to replace your set.
8. Some households will need new aerials, although this depends on the final spectrum allocation. Large parts of Gauteng are expected to be affected, although Cape Town residents should be able to carry on using old antennae.
9. Digital television does not affect consumers who have satellite dishes, unless they specifically want to watch South African Broadcasting Corporation and etv channels through the aerial.
10. Set-top boxes should cost less than R700, and the price is falling all the time as economies of scale kick in around the world.
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