Photo by: Bloomberg
As part of the Broadcasting Digital Migration project, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi will, on Thursday, deliver the first batch of government-subsidised set-top boxes (STB’s) to the community of Keimoes, in the Kai Garib Municipality, in the Northern Cape.
Keimoes is located within the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) area, where the world's largest radio telescope would be built.
This would mark the first installation of digital terrestrial STB’s in South Africa since the digital terrestrial television policy was gazetted in March.
Over 2 400 households in the SKA area had registered to receive government set-top-boxes in line with government's commitment to provide 5-million indigent household owners in possession of television sets, with free decoders.
The registration process was initiated by Muthambi at a public event in Keimoes at the beginning of October and would see government distributing 23 000 STB’s free of charge.
Towns around SKA area in the Northern Cape included Brandvlei, Britstown, Calvinia, Carnavon, Fraserburg, Groblershoop, Kakamas, Keimoes, Kenhardt, Loeriesfontein, Marydale, Nieuwoudtville, Pofadder, Springbok, Sutherland, Vanwyksvlei, Victoria West and Williston.
“The installation of government's fully subsidised STB’s starts in the SKA area. Television viewing experience will never be the same for many households here in the Northern Cape.
“This progress marks a significant milestone of the BDM project,” Muthambi said.