The policy was presented by the then Minister of ICT Winnie Magagula to head of government Sibusiso Dlamini and other stakeholders at a dinner held at the Royal Swazi Spa. Conference
However, all that has not been met.
This came after the Regional Radio Communication conference (RRC-06) under the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva resolved to switch from analogue terrestrial television broadcast to digital terrestrial television broadcasting by 2015.
The policy states that the country as a member of the SADC regional body was expected to switch over by the end of 2013.
The policy stated that the national digital broadcasting signal coverage would cover 50 percent of the population by January 1 2014, 80 percent of population by end of 2014 and 100 percent by June 2015 enabling analogue switch-off.
However, Director in the Ministry of ICT Stan Motsa said they will not switch off because when they do that, they should have transmitters in place that will allow them to switch to the digital terrestrial television.
Motsa added that currently they are in the tendering process where one company will be chosen to install the transmitters.
He made it clear that although they couldn’t meet the 2013 deadline for their pilot study, they were sure that they would meet 2015, which is mandatory.
“We will definitely meet the international switch on date to digital terrestrial television by June 2015 as a country because that is a mandatory date,” he said.
Motsa said the delay was caused by the complexity of the project where they have to meet different countries and experts and find out if it won’t hinder their progress once they start installing the transmitters.
“We need consultations from all stakeholders and we needed to coordinate with other countries and identify the places where we will install our transmitters. We are very sure that the work will start soon,” he said.
We are waiting for the ministry - Swazi TV
Swazi TV CEO Bongani Dlamini made it clear that they were waiting for the Ministry of Information Communication Technology to give them the necessary equipments to work with in the migration project.
Dlamini said the station is only a receiver of content so they cannot dwell much on the issue as they were waiting for the equipment.
Dlamini then referred all further comments to the Director of Communications, Stan Motsa, as he said he was the one who would have clear answers on what is stalling the project.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Eddie Abner
Quelle/Source: The Swazi Observer, 30.12.2013
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