LIMPOPO – Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi, said districts lying near South African and neighbouring countries will get preference in the distribution of the free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT) set top boxes.
Muthambi addressed hundreds of people at the government Imbizo held at Rabali village near Thohoyandou on Saturday. She told the rural populace that digital broadcasting is far more efficient. It allows for better picture and sound quality, has capability for enhanced applications (such as electronic programme guides). She said the DTT has the potential to increase the variety of television content to increase consumer choice, with many positive economic spin-offs.
“The purpose of the set top box is to convert the DTT signal for reception on an ordinary analogue television set. This is different to set top boxes in the Pay TV environment, where the set top box is integrated to ensure only authorised subscribers are able to view the service,” Muthambi explained.
“The project was handed to us on 31 January and within the past five months, we have managed to move around our SADC colleagues Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique and talk to the signal distributors to avoid spectrum interference.
“We have formed task teams with our neighbouring countries so their citizens won’t see the SA content by mistake due to interference.
“The availability of set top boxes are still low, but we appealed to parliament on Tuesday and Sentec informed us that they have a value chain system to resolve this. Sentec have already placed the first order.
“In 1994 we used to manufacture televisions in the country and this DTT project will breathe new life into the local electronic manufacturing industry. We are going to have multiple channels and we are going to see more films in indigenous languages. Young people should seize this opportunity and start taking animation, film making, photography and graphic design as a subject so that they can contribute to the future of this project.”
On behalf of king Toni Mphephu Ramabulana of the Venda tribe, chief Nndweleni Mashamba said he will appreciate it if the DTT created job opportunities for the youths.
