National Government has announced that it has extended the date for the complete switch-off of analogue to digital television. The deadline for the analogue switch-off was 31 December 2024, but this has now been extended by three months to 31 March 2025.
PICTURE: PixabayAccording to the Ministry of Communications and
Digital Technologies, approximately 467 000 indigent households, who are registered
for government-provided set-top boxes, currently, have not yet received them.
“There is no denying that the Broadcasting
Digital Migration project has dragged on for far too long, costing the
government R1.23 billion for dual illumination, which refers to the simultaneous
transmission of both analogue and digital signals. This process is costly and
cannot be sustained indefinitely, moreso, at a time when the fiscus is under
extreme pressure,” said Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital
Technologies.
He said Government’s immediate focus between
now and the end of March 2024 is to aggressively accelerate the delivery and
installation of set-top boxes to indigent households to ensure that as many
households as possible are prepared for the switch-off.
“Broadcasters are key stakeholders in this and
will be instrumental in raising awareness to ensure that the rest of the free
to air households have access to the necessary device to receive digital
broadcasting signals.
To avert further delays and ensure efficient
delivery, Malatsi has directed the Director-General to implement consequence
management for any individuals responsible for failures within the department.
“We have communicated this decision to the
broadcasters and relevant stakeholders in a meeting today and commit to
continue working together with them on this project. Their commitment to
ensuring that the free-to-air households migrate is critical to the success of
this programme.
“The postponement of the analogue switch-off
deadline recognises the considerable delays that have plagued the Broadcasting
Digital Migration (BDM) project since its inception and provides the necessary
relief that makes provision for more time to migrate as many South African as
possible before the final switch off. To this end, the Government will continue
to subsidize indigent households,” said Solly
Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.
Done by: Mitchum George
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