Continuing disaster of the unavailable set-top boxes
Communications minister admits that at this point the government has no fixed timeline for botched digital migration process
The government does not have a timeline for when SA will officially switch off its analogue broadcast services in favour of modern digital platforms, communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams tells the FM.That means South Africans may, for at least another two years, pay on average R150 for 1GB of data.The latest digital migration document from industry regulator the Independent Communications Authority of SA, released in December, proposes an accelerated schedule to complete the process in 2021.That is six years after the June 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television. And it is 10 years after the government’s own deadline to switch off the analogue network — in November 2011.Migration would clear the radio frequency spectrum occupied by broadcasters to allow faster wireless mobile broadband services and other applications.Ndabeni-Abrahams says one of the government’s challenges is the unavai...
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.