SKA regulations must obey Constitution

Public consultations will be carried out before formulating the regulations for the coordinating area of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.

After the elation of being chosen as the primary country hosting the SKA, SA is putting in place the regulatory framework for the project.

"The most important regulatory aspect is creating radio-quiet zones so that radio waves can be received from space without interference," says Amanda Armstrong, one of two directors at Werksmans Attorneys who have worked on the SKA project since its inception nine years ago.

Armstrong is now creating the regulatory framework for the telescope and emphasises that radio-quiet zones will be critical for the effective functioning of the telescope and its receivers.

"Any interference could fundamentally affect the working of the telescope and its ability to receive waves coming from other planets and stars."

However, Armstrong also says care must be taken to comply with the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, when formulating the regulations. This is particularly with regards to telecommunications services accessible to the surrounding residents.

She explains that the question of rights comes into play when there are people living or working in the areas demarcated for the SKA receivers, which will be primarily located at sites around Carnarvon in the Northern Cape.

"The land which will be the core area is where the most important combination of receivers will be located and where radio-quiet conditions will be most critical."

The state bought this land some time ago in preparation for the SKA project. Although the core area is essentially unoccupied, the area surrounding it (known as the central areas) is populated, albeit not densely, and so is the area around that (the coordinating area).

"The central area, which we are addressing now, will not be as strictly regulated as the core area, but it is still extremely important to minimise radio wave interference," Armstrong says.

"It will be important to ensure that the rights of land-users and owners in that area are taken into account. With this in mind, all interested parties will be invited to make representations."

In light of the need for radio-quiet, the Department of Communications (DOC) will adjust the digital broadcast signal for areas close to the SKA.

Communications minister Dina Pule is today launching an awareness campaign for the digital migration process, in the Northern Cape.

The launch marks the first phase of an awareness campaign that plans to create understanding around the digital migration process. The department plans to migrate from analogue broadcast signal to digital terrestrial television (DTT).

The DOC is demonstrating the different types of technology that will be needed by the communities during the migration process. Three areas in the Northern Cape were identified by the department for the demonstration.

The township of Motswedimosa, near Kimberley, will receive DTT signals, while Carnavon and Williston, located around the SKA site, will receive direct-to-home satellite signals.