Analogue switch-off: 672 days and counting
With South Africa set to switch off analogue terrestrial broadcasts by the end of December 2013, state-run signal distributor, Sentech, says it is ‘on track’ regarding the rollout timeline on the DVB-T standard.
Following a long battle between the various digital terrestrial television (DTT) standards, the Department of Communications (DoC) announced in January 2011 that South Africa would adopt the DVB-T2 standard.
In January 2012, Minister of Communications, Dina Pule, said that Sentech was making significant progress in the rollout of the DVB-T2 transmitters.
“We anticipate that by March 2012 the digital signal will cover more than 60% of the population,” the minister said. This adds to government’s commitment to have 95% coverage by the end of 2013.
Sentech Spokesperson, Nthabeleng Mokitimi, confirmed this date with BusinessTech: “By the end of March 2012, Sentech will be ready with the DVB-T2 network, covering 60% of the population.
“Sentech is indeed on-track to ensure that affected broadcasters migrate from analogue to digital television within the government-set timelines,” Mokitimi said.
The digital migration has been beset by delays, however, with the target of November 2011 pushed back to April 2012 – and now to December 2013.
The parastatal has been afforded a total of R643 million by the SA Treasury for the dual-illumination period and for digital broadcasting infrastructure. Dual-illumination is the period when both digital and analogue signals will be broadcast – until such time as the country is ready for digital signals.
This funding pledge was announced last week by Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, as part of his annual budget for 2012, and included additional funding of R141 million for the purchase of 30 television- and 30 radio-transmitters.
Digital migration would enable a clearer signal; space for more television channels; and it would free up spectrum for the telecommunications industry.
Gordhan’s budget review booklet also noted that a playout centre will be established, and technology would be provided for a digital library for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The SABC will receive R138 million as part of a total allocation of R478.6 million. This is to ensure analogue programming content is available in digital format, the booklet said.
In April last year, Sentech said that the government had allocated R279 million for the rollout of digital broadcasting infrastructure, and dual-illumination operations during 2011-2012. An additional R343 million would be allocated for the remainder of the medium-term expenditure framework period.
Sentech earmarked capital expenditure of R993 million over the next three years for digital terrestrial television, with operating expenditure at R329 million over the same period.
In its annual report – ended March 2011 – Sentech announced a R20 million decline in total revenue, to R826 million. The decrease was largely attributed to the decrease in the dual-illumination government grant income from R51 million to R36 million.
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