With the South African government that just confirmed DVB-T2 as the digital television standard for South Africa's digital terrestrial television (DTT), I have the following reaction from South Africa's broadcasters and various stakeholders whom I've asked this morning for comment:
''The SABC welcomes the decision that South Africa will now officially adopt the European standard for digital terrestrial television. South Africa has used the DVB suite of standards since the early 90s and has grown a pool of skills that can easily embrace the adoption of DVB-T2. The adoption of DVB-T2 means that the SABC will use fewer spectrums to broadcast its public service channels. The spectrum savings means that SABC will be able to offer HD services on digital terrestrial.
DVB-T2 offers more capacity that can be used to carry more free to air channels, thus allowing the SABC to meet its mandate more effectively by using only one DTT terrestrial network instead of the current 3 analogue networks. For the SABC this means cost savings in terms of signal distribution – we now only need to pay for one network instead of 3. DTT also brings with it data services that can be used in order to enhance existing programmes and create new revenue streams. DVB is also used on satellite which therefore allows for easy interoperability between the terrestrial and satellite broadcast platforms.
The SABC will review its plans for DTT and adjust where needed. The SABC will start implementation once a decision is made on the commercial launch date for South Africa. The on air date (launch date) is dependent on various factors; time taken to build facilities, STB manufacturing time lines, time to create new channels and the authorization of the new channels.''
Kaizer Kganyago, SABC spokesperson
''e.tv welcomes and supports the decision by the minister of communications, Roy Padayachie to adopt DVB-T2 with MPEG4 compression as South Africa's digital terrestrial standard for the country. The minister has laid a stable foundation from which broadcasters and the industry can now start working again on migrating South African television viewers from terrestrial to digital television.
e.tv believes that the DVB family of standards offer the most effective basis for the delivery of digital terrestrial television in South Africa. e.tv and M-Net started T2 trial broadcasts in Soweto in September. This trial has shown that viewers are excited about the additional number of channels, as well as the enhanced/improved picture quality.
DVB-T is the most widely adopted DTT system in the world, with more than 150 million receivers sold in more than 40 countries. South Africa will be adopting the latest technology available - the T2 standard - which is simply an upgrade developed by the DVB group for better spectrum efficiency. The following steps need to be completed for DTT to reach South African television viewers: Certain technical specifications to be amended and a conformance scheme to be put in place, Network roll-out to continue and broadcasters to develop channels and get ICASA approval for them. e.tv looks forward to working with the minister and his department, other broadcasters and the manufacturing industry in rolling out DTT across South Africa.''
Bronwyn Keene-Young, chief operating officer
''We absolutely welcome this decision by government to endorse DVB-T2 as the digital television standard for South Africa's TV industry moving forward. The South African television industry has been waiting for this issue to be fnalized and DVB-T2 is perfect to future proof the digital migration process. This decision to use DVB-T2 is a great start to the year.
For this digital migration process to be successful one of the things broadcasters have all been waiting for have been for this decision to come from government. Now this decision needs to be implented by the South African Buro of Standards (SABS). Only then will manufucturing for DTT set top boxes be able to commence. It's vitally important that we got this clarity on a digital television standard and now we will make sure this gets implemented so that South African broadcasters can begin the business of getting digital broadcasts in the country up and running.''
Karen Willenberg, M-Net's head of regulatory affairs
''The Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association (Sadiba) welcomes the announcement by the minister of communications in South Africa that confirmed DVB-T2 as standard for digital terrestrial television.
The minister's announcement endorses the decision taken by SADC ministers responsible for telecommunications, postal and ICT in Luksa in November 2010 and sets in motion the digital migration process in South Africa. The visionary decision to implement DVB-T2 will ensure that South Africa and the region leapfrog directly to the latest terrestrial broadcast technology. DVB-T2 will deliver numerous benefits to consumers whilst securing the value of investments in networks and home receivers well into the future. Sadiba applauds the minister, the Digital Dzonga and the department of communications on the decision and re-affirms its commitment to supporting migration to digital going forward.''
''The announcement by the department of communications that the European DVB-T2 standard will be adopted for digital terrestrial television (DTT) set-top boxes in South Africa is positive for the industry and the economy.
We commend the department of communications and minister Roy Padayachie for the selection of DVB-T2 as the standard for South Africa. We believe this decision fits well with the stated national objective of creating policies that encourage innovation and the development of local IP.
Minister Padayachie has only been in his new post as minister of communications for a short while and already he is making a positive impact on the ICT industry. His appointment has brought sanity to the table and bodes well for the future. Altech is a major industry player as a manufacturer of set-top boxes (STBs) by its subsidiary, Altech UEC. We have already started manufacturing DBV-T2 enabled STBs and look forward to the rollout that will bring the quality of digital television within reach of all South Africans.
The STB rollout will be a stimulant for South Africa's telecommunication strategy – that of increased competition, affordable bandwidth, greater internet uptake and hence ICT sector growth, which are all linked to increased growth of the economy. The next step in the process is for the department of communications to engage with all stakeholders to ensure that we meet the ITU's global deadline.''
Craig Venter, Altech group CEO
ALSO READ: South African government confirms DVB-T2 as South Africa's digital television standard.
ALSO READ: Communications minister Roy Padayachie on why DVB-T2 was chosen for South Africa.
ALSO READ: All the latest and very interesting details about M-Net and e.tv's joint DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television trial.
