Media statement by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, MP on the progress update on Broadcast Digital Migration
Introduction
Our last media briefing was on the 25th of August 2022. At that media briefing, we provided a progress report on STB registration towards the closing date of 30 September 2022 and encouraged qualifying households to apply. We reported a total of 61,155 new registered households recorded between April and July 2022, which translated to an average of 15,288 registrations per month and represented a decline in STB applications and registrations.
The number of new applications and registrations for August and 30 September 2022 totalled 140 674. Therefore, the number of registrations between April – September 2022 is 201 829, which translate to 33 638 per month and not the claimed millions that were supposedly going to be left behind.
At this point, I would like to take this opportunity to express my and the Department of Communications & Digital Technologies’ gratitude for the partnership in driving STB applications, in particular in rural areas. I would also like to express my appreciation to qualifying households who responded to calls to apply before the closing date of 30th September 2022.
BDM Awareness
To refresh our memories, the Constitutional Court in its judgement of the 28 June 2022, it opined that Analogue switch-off is an urgent, and unfortunately much delayed, national priority. The ConCourt held that the Minister must notify members of the public about the planned analogue switch-off and inform them about a need to register for STBs with a sense of urgency (para 68). The ConCourt pointed out that when determining a time period for further registration of STBs, the process is not required to start from scratch, and the Minister may legitimately take into account the opportunities already afforded to qualifying and indigent persons to register.
It must be noted that the ConCourt deemed that it cannot prescribe the procedure that the Minister must follow before determining the analogue switch-off date nor the period for informing the public about the ASO and need to register. Given the noticeable decline in applications for STBs between April and June 2022, the 30th of September 2022 was determined as a closing date for applications or registration for STB assistance.
The 30th of September 2022 as a closing date for STB application was gazetted through Government Gazette 46683 of 2002 dated 8 July 2022, and this Gazette was published in all official languages.
To ensure public awareness of the 30th of September applications closing date, we adopted and implemented a multipronged awareness programme, which entailed the following:
- SABC Television through 3 promo-Slots per day for the 3 SABC channels.
- SABC Public Radio Stations (all official languages) through 5-6 promo slots per radio stations per day
- 119 Community Broadcasters through 3 promo slots per day.
- Social media platform of the Department and its portfolio entities.
- Media briefings and interviews
- Partnered with the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders and the South African Local Government Authority (SALGA) as the sphere of government closest with the people to disseminate information about 30 September 2022 cut-off date and the digital migration process.
- Conducted physical community engagement meetings in various provinces to educate our people about Digital migration, Drive registrations and STB installations in various communities.
Progress with Installation
On the 25th of August 2022, we reported that we were left with approximately 244 000 installations to complete, these numbers excluded new registrations.
As of 30 November 2022, we have 185 382 outstanding installations to complete, this takes into account all STB registration up to 30 September 2022. We have been installing STBs at an average of 49 417 installations per months, which implies that we require just over 3 months to complete installations at the current run rate.
Notice of intetion to switch-off analogue and end dual illumination
At the 25th August 2022 media briefing, we indicated that we will continue to evaluate registrations for the period to September as we move towards determining the final Analogue switch-off date.
The ConCourt opined that “once adequate notice is given to the public to make informed decisions on whether to register for an STB, digital migration should proceed without further delay”.
However, whereas the ConCourt held that the Minister’s power to determine the analogue switch-off date is an exercise of executive power (para 33 of judgment) [and] this power is located within the Minister’s original constitutional policy-making powers, which is section 85(2)(c) of the Constitution (para 35). The ConCourt held that the decision concerning the analogue switch-off date was not a mechanical determination and it was not procedurally rational for the Minister to set the analogue switch-off date without notice to the industry and affected parties and taking into account of the representations received regarding the analogue switch-off date (para 53);
To give effect to this part of the ConCourt Judgement, I hereby give notice to the industry and affected parties, of my intention to determine 31st March 2023 as the analogue switch-off date and end of dual illumination period. Industry and affected parties are invited to make substantive representations either in support or opposing the proposed date.
The Government Gazette 47697 notifying and inviting industry, affected parties and members of the public to make substantive submissions have been published. In addition, industry players have also been sent letters requesting their substantive submissions by 27 January 2023.
Conclusion
Analogue switch-off must be concluded without further delay in order to enable the Telecommunication network operators to decongest the networks with the deployment of 4G and 5G networks. The quality of connectivity is degrading across the country and some areas have completely lost network coverage pushing for a speedy conclusion of digital migration to allow speedy 4G and 5G deployment.
We have already started receiving reports of cross interference between Broadcasting and IMT services, something we did not want to occur at all. In this regard, it is important to emphasise that the broadcasters are no longer protected in those frequencies as the protection fell on in June 2015.
Thank you.
Enquiries:
Tlangelani Manganyi (Tlangi)
Cell: 060-886-4670
E-mail: Media@DCDT.gov.za
Facebook: Department of Communications & Digital Technologies.
Twitter: @CommsZA
