Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams and MEC Makgoe will be switching off analogue television broadcasting services in Bethlehem, Dihlabeng Local Municipality, Free State
As part of World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, will be switching off analogue television broadcast services in Bethlehem, Dihlabeng Local Municipality, on 17 May 2021. Bethlehem is the penultimate high power analogue site to be switched off in the Free State, with Bloemfontein as the final one in the province.
This follows a concerted effort by the department, the State-Owned Companies under its mandate and external stakeholders involved in the digital migration programme. So far sixteen analogue transmitters have been switched off since March 2021 in the Free State. An additional four low power secondary sites linked to Bethlehem will also be switched off on the day. The analogue switch-off in the Free State is continuing, simultaneously with the switch-off in the Northern Province.
This work follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address in March that the phased switch-off of analogue TV transmitters would begin. It is anticipated that this process, which will be done province-by-province, will be completed by the end of March 2022. “The Department is encouraged by the participation of the private sector broadcasters and local electronic manufacturers, in ensuring that households that do not qualify for the subsidy are aptly catered for through existing alternative digital TV reception decoders and television sets in a retail market,” said Ndabeni Abrahams.
Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams will also visit sites connected to broadband by the SA connect project, a flagship programme of the department. These sites include schools, health facilities, libraries and government buildings in order to improve public access to the internet. As a result, to date, 970 government facilities, including hospitals, clinics and schools, are connected to the National Health Insurance database in eight district Municipalities across seven provinces. One of the most important government objectives is expanding broadband access, and the conclusion of digital migration is an important link in achieving this goal. The conclusion of digital migration will further free up valuable spectrum and thus enable widespread availability of broadband for public and private use.
Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams will also test the speed and functionality of broadband connectivity that provides internet access to learners by remotely connecting from a public library in Bethlehem to a school in Phuthaditjhaba in QwaQwa, located 90km from Bethlehem.
World Telecommunications and Information Society Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 17th May 1969, commemorating the establishment of the International Telecommunications Union. It aims to raise awareness about the possibilities that the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies. This year the theme is ‘Accelerating Digital Transformation in challenging times’.
“We observe this day when the world is in the middle of a devastating pandemic. The fight against COVID-19 has put into sharp focus the need for the ICT sector to patriotically work as a collective and deploy its capabilities in fighting the spread of the virus,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Monday, 17 May 2021
Time: Bethlehem Community Library
Time: 08:00 am
Media RSVP Phoka Mofokeng 078 617 0464 or email phoka@gcis.gov.za
Media enquiries: Mish Molakeng 082 469 3997 Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies or Howard Ndaba 079 503 5485 spokesperson for Free State MEC of Education
