MTBPS 2017: The Department of Communications (DOC) held more than its targeted digital migration awareness campaigns in the first half of 2017/2018.
The DOC revealed this in the Adjusted Estimates of National Expenditure document, which forms part of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement delivered by finance minister Malusi Gigaba in Parliament this afternoon.
According to the department, it planned to host 10 digital broadcasting awareness campaigns in the first six months of the year, but has already held 54.
The department, which is charged with facilitating SA's switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), says "its overachievement is mainly due to the establishment of partnerships with other national and provincial departments and local municipalities".
SA missed the June 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for countries to complete the full switch to DTT. The ITU has called on nations to switch over to allow radio frequency spectrum to be freed up for mobile broadband services.
In addition to missing the ITU deadline, SA's digital migration project has, in the past, been plagued by controversies that further bogged down the process.
Last week, the department underwent leadership changes, which saw minister Mmamoloko Kubayi take over the reins from minister Ayanda Dlodlo.
STBs conundrum
The department has given itself until December 2018 to ensure some five million low-income South African TV-owning households migrate to DTT.
Government will subsidise the five million households with set-top boxes (STBs).
The STBs are an essential part of the migration process as they are required to convert digital broadcasting signals on analogue TV sets. The decoders allow consumers to receive DTT without having to buy a new digital TV.
However, after placing an order for 1.5 million STBs in 2015, the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) decided to halt production of these decoders last year, citing legal challenges.
USAASA, which has been charged with the responsibility of managing the production and installation of the government-subsidised STBs, has admitted to challenges in rolling out digital migration decoders.
According to the agency, the suspension of STB production resulted in project delays.
Despite these challenges, the DOC is determined to complete the implementation of the digital migration project within the next year.
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