Independent Communications Authority of South Africa: Position paper on digital migration: Regulations, 2012 (Gazette 36170, Notice 119)

18th February 2013 By: Asha Ramsaran

The Republic of South Africa is obliged, in the context of the global transition from analogue television broadcasting to digital broadcasting, to effect the migration of existing terrestrial television services from analogue to digital broadcasting modes. Amongst the benefits that will be realized through the migration of the analogue terrestrial television services to digital is the release of the "digital dividend", being those frequencies previously utilize for the purposes of analogue broadcasting, on the basis that the digital technology utilities the radio frequency spectrum in a more efficient manner than analogue technology and that the frequency allocation required for digital broadcasting is significantly less than that required for analogue. The availability of the digital dividend will, in turn, allow for the introduction of further services utilizing the released radio frequency spectrum, including both electronic communications (telecommunications) services and broadcasting services.