Name of the Project
Digital broadcasting migration project.

Location
South Africa.

Client
The Department of Communications (DoC) and Sentech.

Project Description
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) is the implementation of digital technology to provide more channels and/or better picture quality and sound using a conventional television antenna or aerial, instead of a satellite dish or cable connection.

In 2005, State-owned enterprise Sentech announced its plans to roll out DTT using digital video broadcasting terrestrial (DVB-T) technology, in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Initially, there will be two DVB-T transmitters for each location or site.

The first phase of the project involves upgrading the Sentech broadcast network and duplicating the current analogue network channels on a digital system.

Most of the 220 sites needed to broadcast DTT to 92% of South Africa's population are in place, but have to be upgraded to become fully digital. Once that process has been completed, DTT and analogue systems will run simultaneously (a dual-illumination process) until South Africa is ready to switch off analogue transmission. This decision will be made by government.

Consumers will require a set-top box (STB) to decode the signal, even for public broadcasting and free-to-air channels. The STBs are expected to be subsidised.

Once the migration to DTT is complete, the country will no longer have exclusive use of the frequencies.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Value
The upgrade is expected to cost R4.3-billion.

Duration
According to an agreement with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the country had until 2015 to complete the migration.

Latest Developments
South Africa could, once again, miss the new deadline of June 2018 for digital migration as a result of “supply chain management irregularities" and "collusion issues", parliament's portfolio committee has heard.

The initial deadline, as determined by the International Telecommunication Union, was June 17, 2015. Owing to legal wrangling and power struggles between the newly established departments of Communications and Telecommunications and the Postal Service, South Africa missed that deadline.

Former Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, who was the political head of the political debacle until last month, when President Jacob Zuma reshuffled his cabinet, had set the new deadline for June 2018.

However, the Department of Communications (DoC) has told Parliament that the process is facing a funding challenge, although it Is not the only challenge Deputy Minister of Communications Thandi Mahambehlala has said.

"Usassa (Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa) cancelled the contracts of the manufacturers," she has explained.

DoC's acting director-general Basani Baloyi has said “the problem is that Usassa just unilaterally cancelled the contracts”.

"We're not only concerned about the money, we might also even miss the deadline."

She has also said some of the service providers, who have stock, might sue.

Portfolio committee chairperson Humphrey Maxegwana has requested that a joint meeting with the portfolio committee on telecommunications and the postal service should by convened urgently.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
The process has been dogged by delays as broadcasters fight over whether STBs should be encrypted.

Contact Details for Project Information
DoC Mish Molakeng, cell +27 82 469 3997.
Sentech, tel +27 11 691 7000.