South Africa's inability to pick a digital terrestrial television standard – and stick with it – could spell the end of an industry that has yet to get off the ground.
Local set-top box (STB) manufacturers are concerned the market could be flooded with Chinese and Brazilian imports. This is because a key specification has been left hanging while the Department of Communications (DOC) dithers about which television standard to implement.
SA decided in 2006 to implement the European DVB-T standard. However, in April it controversially started to review the decision, and is now pondering the Brazilian version of the Japanese ISDB-T standard – a move that has stalled the entire migration process.
One of the issues yet to be resolved is a STB control, which would protect the local industry. The control would ensure only approved decoders that meet the specifications will be able to receive television signals from free-to-air broadcasters.
STBs are required to convert the old analogue signal for reception in digital. Only people who own a television with a built-in digital tuner will not need the decoders and SA has a potential market for 10 million boxes.
The DOC intends using the move to digital to stimulate a local STB manufacturing industry, which would target the African market.
The department's concept is for larger companies such as Altech UEC, which also manufactures satellite decoders, to share knowledge with smaller, empowered firms to create a sustainable electronics manufacturing sector.
More at ITWeb
