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ICT Policy Review
Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) environment is dynamic and rapid technological development is changing how we communicate and access information and services. Separate frameworks have guided the development of the Telecommunications & Postal Services sector since 1994. These include White Papers on Broadcasting Policy, Telecommunications Policy and Postal services policy. These policy frameworks focused on addressing historical inequalities in access to basic services, while ensuring that all South Africans benefit from new services and access to new technologies and that ICTs are actively used to meet the development goals of the country. These policy frameworks reinforced the constitutional principle of equality and equal access to all communication services by all South Africans.
The ongoing technological changes and innovations that are envisaged in the future, coupled with the fact that most of the communication related policies were drawn up in the beginning phases of the country’s democracy, necessitate a review of these frameworks and the development of a new policy.
To this end, the Minister of Telecommunications & Postal Services has initiated an ICT Policy Review process to review current frameworks in order to develop a new policy, at least equal to those of the best in the world, is therefore both a necessity and an opportunity. The policy review should establish which current provisions have become redundant because of changes we have experienced; provisions that should be carried into the future, and new provisions that should be established to take the sector forward.
This policy review process is aimed at developing a new communications sector framework that further advances previous changes made in response to convergence. The review process will evaluate progress against the original objectives set out in the individual White Papers, policies and related laws in order to strengthen the overarching framework. It will also look at what new approaches are necessary to ensure our policies and frameworks are relevant to the changing environment and to individual, community and society’s social, economic, cultural, and development needs. The amended policy will consider how we could better promote the relevant and sustainable use of communications technologies and services to meet clearly identified needs.
We need to consider:
- What policy and regulatory framework will create an enabling environment for communication services to contribute more effectively towards improving people’s lives in the workplace, in their homes, and communities?
- What framework will best promote access by all South Africans to a range of compelling opinion, information, education and cultural content in the language/s of their choice (including sign language) – and also give them the means to create this content?
- How can we ensure that communication services be used to improve service delivery by Government and give citizens a greater voice in determining their service needs?
- How do we make communications services both competitive and robust to boost investment by the private sector, and strengthen the voice of civil society?
- What policy do we need to promote innovation and development of the sector so that it can increase the prosperity of the country as a whole and of all individuals who live in it?
- How can we in this process, strengthen and sustain the relationship between the public and private sectors, labour, citizens, academic and other institutions to increase our capacity to better meet the country’s needs?
Government has already identified the communications sector as a critical growth sector. The National Development Plan (NDP) recognises that the ongoing development of quality communications infrastructure, services, content and applications, is key to the rapid economic, social and cultural development of the country.
The Minister of Telecommunications & Postal Services has since established a 22-member ICT Policy Review Panel, who were nominated following a call for public nominations. This Panel, working with closely with the leadership of the Department, will be recommending the best communications policy frameworks that will ensure that all South Africans take full advantage of the possibilities and opportunities created by convergence and digitisation of communications technologies. The new policy frameworks should ensure that we do not create a digital divide where access to quality communications services, technologies, infrastructure and content is not enjoyed by all South Africans.
Broadband
Broadband is an enabling infrastructure for building the knowledge economy and information society and for accelerating the socio-economic growth and development of South Africa. Although the National Broadband Policy was approved by the Cabinet in June 2010, the Department has embarked on developing a revised National Broadband Policy and Broadband Strategy for the country which it plans to submit to Cabinet for approval in the 2013/14 financial year.
The revised Broadband Policy aims at ensuring universal access to reliable, affordable and secure broadband infrastructure and services by 2020 and stimulates sustainable uptake and usage of ICTs. Furthermore, the Policy prioritises the need to implement interventions aimed at strategic positioning of broadband infrastructure as a catalyst for social and economic growth and enhance universal access. To this end, Government will encourage and support investment in broadband backbone network infrastructure and increasing the uptake and usage of broadband services.
You may also check out the South Africa Connect_Creating Opportunities, Ensuring Inclusion_South Africa's Broadband Policy GG37119_6_12_2013
About National Preparatory Working Group
The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is held by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to review and revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. The WRC is held every three to four years. The WRC aims for reaching consensus on various changes in the Regulations to harmonise spectrum use on a global scale.
The changes to the ITU Radio Regulations will result in changes and/or updates to our spectrum plan and possible changes to policies and regulatory matters that may affect allocations to over 40 radiocommunication services and technical, operational and regulatory conditions for the use of the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
The key role of National Preparatory Working Group (NPWG) for the World Radiocommunication Conference is to develop South Africa’s position on WRC agenda items. Membership of the NPWG includes representative from the industry, government agencies and other spectrum users.
Members of the public who have interest in the use of radio spectrum and satellite orbital are strongly encouraged to participate in the NPWG.
Digital Migration
Broadcasting Digital Migration
The Department amended the initial Digital Migration Policy which sets the parameters of migrating the country’s broadcasting from analogue to digital and meeting the ITU resolutions. Following the amendments to the Digital Migration Policy, in March 2012, Cabinet approved the Scheme for Ownership Support (SOS) of Set Top Boxes (STBs) as well as the STB Manufacturing Sector Development Strategy.
As part of the implementation of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy, the Department will in the 2013/14 financial year focus on, amongst others, increasing national digital coverage, rolling out the Scheme for Ownership Support (SOS), implementing the STB Manufacturing Sector Development Strategy as well as ensure digital migration awareness and provision of technical user support through the establishment of a National BDM Call Centre.
Go Digital South Africa!
The broadcasting environment is going through an amazing change due to the development of digital technology. The Go DIGITAL South Africa leaflet has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications & Postal Services as a means to educate, inform and create awareness about the digital migration or Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).
Background
The Go DIGITAL South Africa is a catch phrase for digital migration processing South Africa. As you may well know, the Television has been in South Africa from 1976. When it started, it was black and white, then evolved to colour television. Due to apartheid, white people owned televisions more than any race in the country. After 1994, the country put in place legislation that ensured broadcasting services that reflected/ represented all South Africans despite of their race or economical status.
Today, 11 million households in South Africa own televisions with programmes in their own languages. The government continues to ensure universal service and access by providing broadcasting services through digital migration process that promises to enhance diversity and access especially for the previously marginalised.
The Benefits of Digital Migration or DTT:
- The digital migration process promises more channels, i.e. more programmes like: sports, children, parliamentary, entertainment, music and more vernacular channels which means variety of choice to viewers.
- Every citizen irrespective of geographical location, race, and economical status will enjoy access of all free-to-air channels of good quality picture and sound.
- On screen Electronic Programming Guide and program synopsis.
- Parental guidance and control of programs
- Disability services for hard of hearing and sight.
What is Digital Migration?
The digital migration can be defined by two concepts: the switch or migration from analogue and digital signals.
Analogue:
Prior to the 1990s, broadcasting transmitted sound and video through airwaves by analogue signals.
As much as this method worked well, unfortunately it needed a lot of space on the frequency spectrum. Both television and radio are allocated valuable spectrum in each band. This means a different and unique frequency is allocated for each radio and TV service. Clearly a very spectrum inefficient method of delivering multi channels services.
Current scenario
TV or radio channels are allocated frequencies depending on the geographical location.
- For example in radio: Metro FM is a national radio, in Gauteng province it is accessed on FM 92.4 which is a radio frequency. Whereas in Durban, Cape Town, and/or any other place in the country, the same radio station is accessed on a different frequency. Effectively that suggests that there is a waste of frequency spectrum.
- The same goes for TV channels, they are each allocated a unique frequency allocation per area. Unfortunately to some, this means limited access of broadcasting channels and lack of variety of choice that is enjoyed by others, due to lack or spectrum congestion.
- The quality of your TV picture is dependent on the positioning of an antenna and how far you is from a local transmitter site.
- In the analogue signal transmission method you can only have 1 radio or TV service per channel and 1 unique frequency. TV transmission, be it analogue or digital uses the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) bands.
Digital:
Digital: Post 1990s, the new dawn of digital broadcasting, where sound, video, text and still images can be transmitted in the form of binary digits i.e. ones and zeros. This technology allows for information to be compressed thus saving radio spectrum. Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) is like Digital satellite, but DTT uses ground based (terrestrial) digital transmitters to distribute the signals to your home.
Due to the benefits of digital transmissions, soon to be launched in South Africa, we all benefit.
- For each unique frequency in analogue – or 1 TV service we now with digital in the same spectrum, can transmit 15 standard definition TV services.
- Digital is highly spectrum efficient. In the same geographical area, all TV transmitters can operate on the same frequency without interference.
- Clearly, after analogue switch-off a huge portion of valuable spectrum will be released back to ICASA, which is the ICT sector regulator.
- The home user will require a simple decoder that converts the digital signal to analogue for their TV set. NO new TV set is required.
- After digital migration is completed, the spare spectrum can be reused for other services of national interest.
Having explained the two concepts (analogue and digital) above, digital migration is a process of moving from the analogue to the digital broadcasting for TV and radio. South Africa will only start with television and only later will consider digital radio.
TV programs can be distributed to the home user by terrestrial, satellite and cable transmissions. In SA we use digital satellite and soon digital terrestrial. Cable delivery is now via Internet Protocol (IP TV–internet) but this is very limited due to bandwidth access and constraints currently.
Definition of Terrestrial and Satellite TV:
- Terrestrial television uses a network of transmission towers to relay the signal across the country. Each transmission tower has a specific area of coverage, and it is the network of coverage that provides television signals across the country. If you are within an area covered by a tower, then you will be able to receive broadcast services from that tower.
- Satellite television broadcasting uses a satellite which is in orbit above the earth. The broadcasting signals are sent to the satellite and viewers receive the signal via a satellite dish.
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