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Digital switchover
SOUTH AFRICA
Photo: Adobe Stock
The government is trying to enhance awareness of the switchover.
Making the switch The switchover from analogue to digital television in South Africa is finally taking place. But, asks Phil Desmond, who will benefit?
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S MANY READERS will know, the ITU announced that the African deadline for the switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), was set for 17 June 2015. The ITU said that this change would herald the development of ‘alldigital’ terrestrial broadcast services for sound and television for 119 countries belonging to ITU Region-1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia) and the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, for much of Africa this didn’t happen, or is still ongoing, often because of financial constraints or organisational issues. South Africa in particular has seen many delays and missed deadlines. As we write, however, the process is underway with a finishing date of 2022. As for who will benefit, Thecla Mbongue, senior analyst with Omdia, a leading global research group, explained, “It's going to free up spectrum, so its beneficial for both the broadcasting and the telecom segments. In the broadcasting environment the players are going to move to digital platforms whereby they will be able to provide content of better quality and also have access to platforms that will allow them to offer more in terms of number of channels.” She continued, “Telecom segments are going to inherit spectrum from the broadcasting players that will allow them to enhance their services in terms of broadband – spectrum that is more compatible to some wireless broadband technologies that they plan to use, or are already in use, for 4G – and maybe 5G.” Certainly the regulator – the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa 28 Special Anniversary Issue 2021
(ICASA) – appears keen to get the process moving so that the ‘digital dividend’ in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands can be reassigned to telecommunications operators to provide mobile and wireless broadband services. The regulator wants to license spectrum in these and other bands as soon as possible.
The government is trying to enhance awareness of the switchover through a campaign asking people to buy digital television and set top boxes. Of course there could be further delays. However, Mbongue suggests that even if the auction takes place before it’s all over “the spectrum might be used in places where the switchover has happened” and, in theory, the rest of the country could catch up not long afterwards. Let’s not forget there’s a broadcasting benefit too. The government is trying to enhance awareness of the switchover through a campaign asking people to buy digital television and set top boxes – if they don’t already have them. Poorer households will get a subsidy for a set top box . Sentech, a state-owned company, and the leading provider of electronic communications network services to the country’s broadcasting and communications industry is helping to facilitate the set top box rollout. Mbongue warns, however, that the extra
channels that digital permits might not be something to get too excited about. “Most of the televisions now sold are digital. Also, a lot of people, even in the poorer population, already use satellite services on some sort of digital platforms.” Obviously in some countries there is very little content on the national television channels and a very limited number of those channels in any case. By contrast the portfolio of services like direct broadcast satellite service DStv, and GOtv a paid TV terrestrial service, both owned by MultiChoice, are likely to be more appealing and, says Mbngue, “monthly fees start at prices like 10 dollars or even less a month”. And free-to-air digital channels already exist – like e.tv, South Africa’s biggest independent and free-to-air television channel, established in 1998. “So,” says Mbongue, “there is an audience already watching something digital in any case.” But there’s still mobile communications to get excited about – not least because more spectrum could – possibly – address the vexed issue of high data prices. Meanwhile, after vague ministerial comments about reviewing the implementation process and inefficiencies and bottlenecks the switchover process has finally begun. The analogue signal was switched off in Boesmanskop and surrounding towns in the Xhariep district municipality in March. Gauteng will round off the process in January 2022. Thus a much delayed digital switchover will actually finish next year. Will the government finally get this right? “I think it has to,” said Mbongue. “But you never know.” ✆ www.communicationsafrica.com
