Set-top box strategy due 'this month'

By Nicola Mawson, Contributing journalist

Johannesburg, 13 Oct 2009

The switchover to a digital television signal is scheduled for November next year, but the Department of Communications has yet to publish its “Set-Top Box Manufacturing Development Strategy for SA”.

The strategy was meant to be published last month, but the department has moved the deadline to later this month.

Set-top boxes will become vital when SA changes over from the old analogue broadcast system to the new digital signal next year, as televisions will require the decoder to receive the new signal. About nine million households are expected to require set-top boxes.

However, government is still finalising the strategy, which is intended to develop local manufacturing capabilities, and build an industry that can export the boxes and strengthen SA's engineering skills base.

SA is in a three-year dual-illumination period, as it gears up for the old analogue signal to be turned off in 2011, when digital broadcasting takes over. The international cut-off is in 2015.

Industry's view

Communications spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso says the strategy is being finalised and incorporates public input and the outcome of an industry workshop held under the auspices of the Digital Dzonga Council. The council is overseeing the switchover and consists of industry representatives.

Rikhotso says the department's request for comment on the draft strategy, released in July, resulted in 18 responses being received, largely from the electronics manufacturing sector and free-to-air broadcasters such as etv.

He adds that the strategy should be published this month and will incorporate “critical public input and extensive consultation”. The delay was due to the various public participation processes that had to be conducted. “We wanted to ensure we have as much input from the public and industry as possible,” Rikhotso explains.

The draft strategy seeks to develop a sector that can manufacture the boxes for the local and export markets. It aims to develop engineering expertise through companies sharing their intellectual skills with new entrants, which should boost empowerment in the industry, the draft document states.

Local companies could also benefit from the R2.45 billion that has been budgeted to subsidise boxes for about five million households that cannot afford them.