The Department of Communications (DoC) on Friday said it would kick off the digital migration project in the Motswedimosa township, near Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, on October 3.

The department, which aimed to demonstrate the technologies required for the digital migration process and start its public awareness campaign, would switch on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) signal for ten set-top boxes (STBs) in the township during a ‘proof of concept’ launch.

Another ten STBs, based in Carnavon and Williston, near the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, would receive direct-to-home satellite signals.

DoC technical adviser Roy Kruger previously explained the launch aimed to demonstrate that the digital technology standard adopted by South Africa works effectively without interfering with the low-frequency transmissions of the SKA radio telescope project.

It would also prove that deep rural regions could access television signals.

The DoC, in conjunction with key partners in the project, namely the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the South African Post Office, Sentech and the Universal Services and Access Agency of South Africa, would also demonstrate the signal and transmission processes, while discussing the benefits for South Africans and the subsidy schemes and its qualifying criteria. It would also outline the subsidised STB distribution process.

The second-phase ‘commercial’ nationwide digital switch-on was expected to follow in December.
 

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