The communications department is refusing to back down on the rollout of subsidised digital TV set-top boxes (STB).This decision could be in defiance of a scathing supreme court of appeal ruling, which said in May that it was illegal for government to decide not to add encryption software to these devices. And it is set to cause yet another delay to SA’s conversion to digital TV.Government is not only committed to distributing the boxes, it is also taking the matter to the constitutional court, says communications minister Faith Muthambi’s spokesman Mish Molakeng.The department has already lodged papers in the constitutional court and it will not wait for a ruling from the highest court in the country, Molakeng says. “The distribution of government-subsidised STBs is continuing unabated.”The boxes are a requirement for digital terrestrial TV. But political bungling caused SA to miss the June 2015 international deadline to switch from analogue to digital TV.The process was started in...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.