Consultation issued on use of VHF and UHF Digital Dividend
South Africa's Minister of Communications is looking to speed up the issue of mobile spectrum. The ministry opened two public consultations on the issue. The first is on directing Icasa to 'fast track' the finalisation of the methodology for issuing spectrum in the 2.6 GHz bands, and the second looks at how to use the digital dividend spectrum in the TV frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-790 MHz. Comments are due within 30 days. Icasa this week released a new spectrum plan and is aiming to accept bids for new licences by March.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 19th December 2011
DVB-T2 officially adopted in South Africa
Communications Minister Roy Padayachie has officially announced South Africa’s adoption of the DVB-T2 transmission standard for DTT. He also confirmed that the date for analogue switch off is now December 2013 instead of November 2011 as previously stated. This is in line with SADC’s recommendations.
Source: Digital TV Europe.net
Item added: 14th January 2011
South Africa Confirms DVB-T2
Following the recent recommendation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for DVB-T2 as the DTT standard for the region, South Africa has now officially adopted DVB-T2.
The decision was made in the final Cabinet meeting of 2010 and a formal announcement is expected from communications minister Roy Padayachie in the next few weeks.
Source: TechCentral
Item added: 6th January 2011
Southern Africa Selects DVB-T2
After many meetings, presentations and months of uncertainty, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) digital task force has selected DVB-T2 with MPEG-4 compression as the terrestrial transmission standard for the region. By selecting the most future-proof solution SADC has underlined its slogan "Towards a Common Future".
SADC member countries include Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. All of the 15 countries had already selected DVB-T through the 2006 ITU Geneva agreements and can continue with this implementation if they have already started and migrate to DVB-T2 at a later date. It is expected that all SADC countries will each complete the formal adoption of DVB-T2 in the near future, paving the way for a very ambitious digital switchover date of December 2013.
One of its smallest members, Mauritius, has already completed the switch to DVB-T. South Africa, arguably its most influential member, has already performed many DVB-T trials and more recently DVB-T2 trials in Johannesburg as well. The South African broadcasting industry is strongly supporting the decision for DVB-T2 and is ready to help launch digital TV in South Africa and the region.
The official SADC decision and digital switchover planning can be found on the SADC website.
This important decision has also been widely covered in the press:
Broadband TV News
Tech Central
My Broadband
Screen Africa
Item added: 29th November 2010
DVB-T far superior to ISDB, DVB-T2 beats them both
The South African Digital Broadcasting Association (SADIBA) has released data supporting the adoption of DVB-T and DVB-T2, over the Brazilian variant of the Japanese ISDB-T system.
This recommendation is based upon the performance data of the various DTT systems as published by the International Telecommunications Union. The comparison concludes that DVB-T is slightly better than ISDB-T and that DVB-T2 outperforms both "by leaps and bounds". In a presentation to the University of the Witwatersrand, SADIBA’s Gerhard Petrick said that DVB-T2 yielded 67% more payload at equivalent coverage and network cost.
A South African DVB-T2 trial started recently and is currently transmitting 18 channels over Johannesburg. Channels include SABC1, 2 and 3, ETV, MNet and interactive services. The industry support for DVB-T2 is growing by the day and looks the most logical DTT solution for South Africa.
Source: Broadband TV News and SADIBA review
Item added: 8th November 2010
South Africa DVB-T2 Trial
Last week South Africa's broadcasters M-Net and e.tv launched the country's first DVB-T2 trial for a select test audience in the Soweto area. The broadcasters have been running digital television trials since 2008, using the Cabinet approved DVB-T standard.
This trial is another sign that South Africa's broadcast industry is ready to support and start deploying DVB-T2. A formal government decision on the national Digital Terrestrial Television standard is also expected in the coming weeks/months.
M-Net & e.tv press release
Item added: 20th September 2010
Two DVB-H mobile TV licences
The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has issued DVB-H mobile TV broadcasting licences to E.tv and Multichoice.
Applications were also received from Mobile TV Consortium and Super 5 Media, but these failed to comply with regulations. ICASA councillor Robert Nkuna said if everything went according to plan, mobile TV would be available to the public within twelve months.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 20th September 2010
South African Industry Favours DVB-T
May 6, 2010
Exciting times in South Africa! No, not the upcoming World Cup in June, but the fact that the government is suddenly reviewing its 2006 decision to adopt DVB-T as its national digital terrestrial television standard. In 2006 South Africa signed the ITU RRC'06 agreement, confirming the decision to use DVB-T. Now, however, this decision doesn't seem so clear.
Last week, DVB Chairman Phil Laven and international DVB consultant John Bigeni presented the strong case for DVB-T and DVB-T2 at a SADC (Southern African Development Community) meeting in Lesotho on April 27 and a symposium in Johannesburg on April 29. All the industry players in both meetings showed strong support for DVB-T, but the final decision will be made by the Department of Communications (DOC).
Further articles on this story can be found here:
May 6: Altech’s Venter slams digital TV rethink (Techcentral)
May 5: Digital distress (Techcentral)
May 3: Digital TV misstep could cost SA (ITWeb)
Apr 28: Mohlala seeks to calm waters (Techcentral)
Apr 26: Row looming over digital TV standards (Techcentral)
Source: DVB
Item added: 10th May 2010
ODM transmitting DVB-S2 MPEG-4 test transmissions
SA’s On Digital Media (ODM) has begun transmitting seven test channels from its Johannesburg HQ according to a report on the Rapid TV News website.
ODM has taken space for 55 channels initially on the SES-Astra owned Sirius satellite which covers the whole of Southern Africa from Nigeria in the West to Cape Town in South Africa.
NDS protected STB’s for the service are said to be in mass production by a local manufacturer.
ODM are expected to announce an official launch date for the service during the SatCom Africa trade show on April 12-15.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 15th March 2010
DSO moves to 2013
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has issued new Digital Migration Regulations which indicate that the Digital Switch Over (DSO) will not take place until 2013 at the earliest. Previously DSO was planned for completion by the 1st April 2012.
The latest plan includes a three year dual transmission period to allow the switch from analogue to digital services to take place. ICASA will give 60 days notice before the start of this three year period.
Main source: Digital TV News
Item added: 22nd February 2010
DVB-H update for South Africa
The major metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria and Cape Town are currently covered by a trial DVB-H service. The service is run by Multichoice, M-Net, MTN and Vodacom.
The technical phase of the trial began on the 1st November 2005 and was expanded on the 9th June 2006. Currently there are around 800 trial users who can view a combination of channels covering sport music entertainment news and music as well as some made for mobile content.
The transmission uses QPSK modulation, an FEC of 2/3, GI of ¼ and an MPE-FEC of 7/8, all in an 8MHz channel. The current bit rate is 4.95 Mbps. and the trial uses Samsung P910 and Nokia N96 terminals.
Source: DStv Mobile: MultiChoice South Africa
Item added: 12th October 2009
ASO date may be reviewed
South Africa’s, end 2011, Analogue Switch Off (ASO) date may be reviewed according to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) councilor Robert Nkuna, reports Rapid TV News. “The authority will consider advising the minister to review the current dual illumination [simulcast] period, since commercial switch-on did not take place on November 1, 2008, as initially planned,” said Nkuna.
ICASA opened a consultation on the proposed regulation of DTT in April and a finalised broadcast frequency plan is expected at the end of August. Three multiplexes are planned, the first providing free to view services from public service broadcaster SABC, the second providing free to view services from commercial broadcasters and the third Pay TV services conditional on M-Net completing its analogue switch off within one year.
DTT services would be available to 50% of the population by the end of 2009 and 95% by the end of 2011.
Southern African Development Community countries, which include Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as South Africa and a host of smaller nations, recently agreed to aim for digital switchover by 2013.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 20th July 2009
2010 World Cup to drive mobile TV
More than 10 mobile TV broadcasting networks will be opened in Africa in time for the soccer world championships next year, according to a senior official at Nokia Siemens Networks reports Broadcast Engineering.
The World Cup, one of the world's most closely followed sports events, will be held in South Africa in June and July of 2010 and has been highlighted as the most important potential driver for the adoption of mobile DTV services.
Stefan Schneiders, the head of business development for mobile TV at Nokia Siemens, said he expects many African countries to soon follow Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Namibia in launching DVB-H mobile TV broadcasts
FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, predicts a record TV audience in Africa for the World Cup, with a cumulative global TV audience at least reaching the 26.3 billion people who watched the 2006 event. For the first time, FIFA will also be offering live coverage specially produced for mobile phones.
Source: Broadcast Engineering
Item added: 25th May 2009
Three DTT multiplexes for South Africa
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published its Digital Terrestrial Television regulations for final public consultation.
It details three multiplexes, the first of which will be used for public broadcasting and include the SABC and Eastern Cape community station Trinity Broadcast Network. SABC also has to include two regional broadcasters on the multiplex.
The second multiplex will contain commercial free to air broadcasts including E.tv, which will be allocated 60% of the capacity. The additional capacity will be offered to new broadcasters.
Fifty percent of the third multiplex will be reserved for the Pay TV operator M’Net on the condition that it is able to switch all its subscribers from analogue to digital within one year.
ICASA wants to allow for trials by other interested persons, enable for the provision of mobile services such as DVB-H and to provide for M-Net to conduct a hard switch over within a period of 12 months, allowing an early release of the digital dividend.
Complete analogue switch off is planned on November 1, 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th April 2009
Invitation to Tender withdrawn
The communications regulator ICASA has withdrawn its invitation to tender for DVB-H licences. The original tender proposal was for two DVB-H multiplexes, which would have been used to provide services to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban.
Although no reason for the withdrawl has been given it is rumoured that it happened as a result of pressure from broadcasters.
Main source: ICASA website
Item added: 2nd March 2009
Government allocates funds for DTT receivers
The South African government has committed to spend Rand 780 million (€60 million) to help fund the cost of DTT receivers for low-income families, aid which will be made available through the Universal Access Service Agency.
In total Rand 2.45 billion has been allocated to help the approximately 5 million households unable to pay the full cost of a DTT receiver. The government will subsidise up to 70% of the total receiver cost and the user must contribute the remainder.
Analogue switch off was planned for completion by 2011 but reports suggest that this may now be delayed.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added 23rd February 2009
DTT coverage targets limited by finance
The broadcast network operator Sentech has announced that it is increasingly unlikely that it will meet its DTT coverage targets of 52% of the population by March 2009 and 80% of the population by 2010. Currently it expects that by the at the end of 2009, services will only reach 40% of the population Sentech had requested R262.4 million (€20 million) from the government but only R150 million (€11 million) was approved.
It is also likely that the shortfall in funding will result in the analogue switch, planned for completion in 2011 being delayed.
Source: Business Day
Item added: 2nd February 2009
CASA opens mobile tender
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has opened a tender for licences to provide mobile digital video broadcasting services in South Africa. Two metropolitan DVB-H multiplexes are on offer
Currently, frequencies are available in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town and as the digital transition takes place and analogue services are switched off, more frequencies are expected to become available
Applicants must have a TV broadcasting or electronic communications licence to participate in the tender. The closing date for applications is 27 February 2009.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 16th December 2008
DTT trial launched
A Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) trial began on the 1st November when Sentech switched on the first DVB-T trial transmitter The trial will continue until Mid 2009 when general service transmissions should begin.
Broadcasters are planning to distribute 3000 set top boxes to viewers participating in the trial.
When the service is launched in 2009 it is expected that the DTT platform will provide more free-to-air channels than are currently available as well as one Pay TV channel.
Digital switchover is planned to occur by 2011.
Source: IT Web
Item added: 3rd November 2008
Digital TV proposals by March
The SA Communications department plans to present its proposals on digital television services in South Africa to the cabinet by the end of March, reports Broadband TV News.
One of the key points for the new digital TV legislation will be the decision to include or not to include a Set Top Box subsidy and whether there will be any import restriction on STB’s.
It is also anticipated that there will be a dual analogue/digital transmission phase, which will commence in the November before the final analogue switch off in 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008
South African ASO set for 2011
The government has now approved the timetable for digital switchover. DTT services are set to begin in 2008 and Analogue Switch Off (ASO) will take place on November 1st 2011, after a three-year period of dual broadcasting.
With the launch of DTT services, viewers will be able to access many new television programme services including regional programmes.
According to government spokesperson Themba Maseko, "The Department of Trade and Industry will interact with television manufacturers and retailers to sensitise them to the conversion."
Source: Business report
Item added: 26th February 2007
MTN teams up with Naspers for DVB-H mobile service
Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest cellular operator, MTN recently announced that it had teamed up with media firm Naspers to offer Africa’s first mobile TV service.
Naspers subsidiary, Multichoice, has been trialing a DVB-H pilot service for some time and will now be able to go forward and launch a commercial service with MTN, but first they need a licence from the S A communication regulator.
MTN said that it would be selling Samsung P910 TV enabled cell phones and that customers buying the unit will be able to sign up for a free trial access to the 11 channel DVB-H service. The Naspers pay-TV service is called DStv.
Multichoice hope to get a licence for the service in the first quarter of 2007, however according to some reports t he Independent Communications Authority of SA is going through applications from 18 companies bidding for licences, and the regulator's acting broadcasting general manager, Sipho Tsotetsi, expects the processes to be finalised in June next year.
Source: Reuters and Business Report
Item added: 17th October 2006
Digital Switchover plans announced
Broadcast network operator Sentech has announced plans for the rollout of DTT services in South Africa.
The existing network infrastructure is being replaced and 184 analogue sites will be upgraded to digital.
DTT services will be available on two multiplexes offering viewers access to seven television services, Mnet, e-TV, 3 SABC national services and 2 SABC regional services.
The planned DTT population coverage is as follows:
56% in 2008
78% in 2009
92% in 2010
Analogue switch will be around 2015 in line with the latest RRC agreements. HDTV is not expected on the DTT platform before analogue switch off.
Main source: Digitag quoting IT Web as source
Item added: 5th September 2006
The Future of TV might be in the box
The SABC could finally have a cure for unpaid television licences if the “Digital Television Committee” which also includes the department of communication (DOC) decides to introduce set-top-boxes that require the use of smart cards to watch TV.
Sentech and the DOC may decide that the broadcast service provider delivers free-to-air and unencrypted services but the disadvantage is that the provider has no control over who uses the service. If the service were encrypted then viewers would need to obtain and pay for a smart card which could be a new way to ensure that all users purchase a TV licence in an indirect way.
Sentech is reported to have set its DTT coverage target at 92% by 2010. Other figures to emerge are that TV households in South Africa are estimated to be 7 million a figure which is expected to increase to 10 million by 2010. It was also said that it was unlikely that any HDTV services would be contemplated until after the digital changeover has taken place.
Source: Business report.co.za
Item added: 26th June 2006
DVB-H trial extended
First started in October 2005 to cover the central Johannesburg area, the DVB-H trial has now been expanded to cover, the capital city, Pretoria and the main highway connecting the two cities. The next area to be covered is Soweto, one of the biggest suburbs in the south of Johannesburg.
The trial, run by Multichoice SMS, is an SFN based system carrying 14 video services and is available to a closed user group, selected by a market research company. The trial is both to test the technology as well as user behaviour.
Source: Multichoice article published in DVB-Scene Number 18
Item added: 6th June 2006
Digital goes the Aerial Route
Its all systems go for Digital Terrestrial Television in South Africa according to mybroadband.co.za Quoting Sentech Executive Johan Raath the article gives a comprehensive view of possibilities and the cost of the transition.
The national upgrade to DTT is expected to take three years and the process will start later this year according to Raath.
Sentech'slargest transmiters covering 70% of the population will be upgraded first.
A period of simulcasting digital and analogue transmissions will be necessary but this will be kept to a minimum due to the high costs of maintaining two services.
Further down the line DTT will allow the introduction of HDTV, but for now SDTV services take priority.
Source: mybroadband.co.za
Item added: 25th January 2006
Treasury funds digital broadcasting network upgrade
The Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, confirmed that funds will made available to digitise the South African television broadcasting signal distribution network according to signal provider Sentech.
Sentech requested capital from the government to upgrade and digitise the existing analogue network which has been in use since 1976 and is now proving very costly to maintain.
Another key reason for the upgrade is to enable the country to broadcast the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament to the rest of the world.
Sentech are also reported to be very interested in the possibilities of the DVB-H standard for broadcasting TV to mobile handsets.
South Africa has around 7 million TV households according to Johan Raath, the spokesman for Sentech, who released the funding information.
Source: Engineering news za
Item added: 15th November 2005
Previous
Multichoice to mount mobile TV
MultiChoice Africa has announced its intention to launch a series of new technologies, including Mobile TV, at a briefing to journalists assembled for the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the Year award in Nairobi Kenya.
Multichoice Africa, announced that it would begin trials in August 2005 using the Digital Video Broadcasting specification, DVB-H, to deliver television to mobile handsets.
Source: Mobile Africa
Last page update: 29th June 2005
South Africa to set up a digital task team
Communication Minister Ivy Matsepe Casaburri announced in a recent statement that the government intended to set up a "migration task team" to look at digitising the country's analogue infrastructure. This follows previous calls from Sentech and the Communications Portfolio Committee to switch to digital equipment. The working group is to comprise of representatives from industry, the regulator Icasa, consumers, business and the government. It is reported that Sentech's estimate for the cost of new digital transmitters is in the order of R268 million.
Source: www.iol.co.za
Item added: 2nd June 2005
Draft Terrestrial Broadcast Frequency plan published
The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has published a draft terrestrial broadcast frequency plan for public comment. This sets out the basis on which new broadcasting licences can be granted.
Already , Orbicom and Electronic Media Network (M-Net) have been conducting DTT tests in Johannesburg, Kyalami and Helderkruin.
SABC has allocated R400 million for the next three years to progressively migrate to a digital network. The transition must be completed by 2010.
Source: Business Report
http://www.busrep.co.za
Previous
South Africa makes progress with DTT
South Africa continues to make progress in the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting using DVB-T.
SADIBA (Southern Africa Digital Broadcasting Association) formed in 2001 made a firm recommendation for DVB-T in a report published in January 2002.
Although the DBAB (Digital Broadcasting Advisory Board) was expected to make an announcement on all digital transitions this has not yet occured. DAB services however are progressing and DVB-T trial transmissions are taking place in Johanesburg by both Sentech and Orbicomm.
Sentech was first on the air in February 2000 with 5 fixed and 2 mobile targeted transmissions.
The fixed service uses 8k, 64QAM modulation with a 1/32 guard period and a 2/3 FEC. The mobile service uses 2k, QPSK with a 1/2 FEC and a 1/4 guard. Both configurations which are in an 8MHz UHF channel are subject to change.
The Orbicom transmission also uses an 8MHZ UHF channel and has been radiating since November 2001. Both fixed and mobile transmission experiments are taking place.
8k, 64QAM modulation with a 1/32 guard and an FEC of 2/3 is used for fixed reception with 2k, 16QAM, a 1/8 guard and an FEC of 2/3 used for mobile tests. These settings are also varied so that effect of different configurations can be assessed.
It has been reported that the digital to analogue transition will take 10-15 years.
For more information look at the following website http://www.sadiba.co.za/pages/home/sa_status.html
DVB endeavour to ensure that the information presented on these pages is correct, however we are not able to guarantee its accuracy. If you have additional information or corrections please sent an e-mail to dvb@dvb.org
Last page update: 19th December 2011, Barry Tew
