Concerns Over Digital Migration

As the government steams ahead, confident that South Africans will start buying decoders in April 2010 in preparation for the country's switch to digital television, there are still concerns about who will foot the bill.

Migrating from analogue to digital means South Africans who do not have digitally complaint television sets will be required to purchase set-top boxes at a cost of R700 in order to view public broadcasting and free-to-air channels.

However, poor households would qualify for a R400 subsidy from the government using the universal service fund. Customers will have to produce a valid TV licence when buying the device.

Last week the Department of Communications introduced the Digital Dzonga Council, a team of experts set up to manage the migration from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

To read the article titled, “Broadband Internet cost set to drop,” click here.