PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 927
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 21 August 2009
QUESTION PAPER NO: 10
DATE OF REPLY: 8 September 2009
Ms J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Minister of Communications:
(1) With reference to the implementation of digital broadcasting, what is
the (a) current status of the project, (b) estimated date of final
implementation, (c) estimated final cost of the project and (d) the
estimated operation costs associated with dual illumination;
(2) whether broadcasters will be liable for payment to Sentech to
transmit digital data during the dual illumination period?
NW1083E
REPLY:
(1) (a) Following the switch on of the signal on 30 October 2008, which
marked the beginning of the dual illumination period in SA, Sentech is
currently implementing Phase 4 of the project to achieve 63.3%
population coverage by 31 March 2010, subject to the finalisation of
the DTT Spectrum Plan by ICASA and the implementation of the DTT
Regulations. In addition, the Digital Dzonga was formally launched in
July 2009. A pilot project to test the readiness of the broadcasting
system is currently underway. The Set-Top-Box (STB) Manufacturing
Sector Development Strategy to encourage local manufacturing of STBs
was gazetted for public comments. Similarly, the Local and Digital
Content Development Strategy, which aims at unlocking the potential of
the content industry, was gazetted for public comments. The Draft STB
Scheme for Ownership Support has been finalized for submission to
Cabinet.
(b) The estimated date of final implementation is 1 November 2011.
(c) Due to the complexity it would be difficult to estimate the
final cost of the project.
(d) The estimated operations costs associated with dual illumination
(for two multiplexes with six channels each) is R918 million.
(2) The broadcasters will not be liable for payment to Sentech to
transmit digital data during the dual illumination period.