DTT to benefit all South Africans
Digital television is set to bring a whole new broadcasting experience for South Africans
The Department of Communications is forging ahead with the digital migration process, ensuring all South Africans enjoy a better broadcasting experience.
Communications Minister Mmamoloko KubayiNgubane is spearheading the department's flagship programme and wants to make everyone aware of the positive changes digital terrestrial television (DTT) will bring.
“It's a whole new experience that we want South Africans to enjoy. We need all South Africans to know that digital migration is here, the project has not stalled. We are going to make sure that we migrate everyone,” said the Minister during a visit to Bizana, Eastern Cape, where she led a DTT awareness campaign.
Sibonelo Masondo, a 68-year-old pensioner, is one of the many South Africans who will be exposed to this "whole new experience".
He loves watching sports on television and looks forward to watching his favourite soccer teams play every weekend.
But a poor television signal at his village means Masondo is unable to fully enjoy his television viewing. He is one of many South Africans living in remote parts of the country where broadcasting signals are weak.
One of the reasons South Africa has joined hundreds of other countries in moving towards more efficient digital radio and television is to allow people like Masondo to enjoy quality TV and radio.
From the 1970s, when TV was first introduced to South Africa, the country used analogue signals and some broadcasters, such as SABC TV and radio stations, still use this technology to this day.
Government now wants South Africa to make the transition to digital broadcasting.
The Department of Communications has been
tasked to roll out a process of migrating all South African households to DTT.
The migration will allow users to experience the many benefits of digital television which includes, clearer pictures and sound as well as more channels.
It's similar to the movement away from record players to CD players – which made music listening experience a whole lot better.
One of the concerns raised by Minister KubayiNgubane is the slow pace in registering for the settop boxes required for digital migration. Low-income South African households qualify for subsidised settop decoders.
The set-top boxes will give access to more than 18 television channels, including the SABC, e.tv and community channels.
These set-top boxes will be necessary to continue watching television when South Africa switches to digital television transmission.The registration of households for digital television decoders started a year ago in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope area of the Northern Cape but registration has been slow.
“The numbers are actually quite low, that is why we are constantly on the road to raise awareness and register people. We want people to understand that they need to go and register for them to receive these decoders,” Minister Kubayi-Ngubane said. She visited several households in the Bizana area where she took it upon herself to register beneficiaries.
The Minister also delivered new laptops to Vukuzenzele Intermediate School.
Children at the school live with disabilities and most rely on wheelchairs to get around.
Unlike their peers, the children are unable to travel to community libraries or internet shops where they can access the internet.The new laptops, which are fully connected to the internet, will help them in their studies and research.
“There will be training that will be provided for both learners and teachers so that these laptops don't become toys that are just standing there. We want this equipment to be utilised optimally,” Minister Kubayi-Ngubane said.