Editors Comments

A bridge not too far

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:07

Today sees the start in Johannesburg of the 7th Annual Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum (DBSF) – an initiative from the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO). With 22 African countries members of the Commonwealth, the continent’s migration from analogue broadcasting to digital terrestrial television (DTT) is a matter of great interest to the CTO, an international development agency mandated to help developing countries bridge the digital divide.

Screen Africa was fortunate enough to be granted interview time with the CTO Chief Operating Officer (COO) Bashir Patel, who delegates of previous DBSF events will remember for his vast expert insight and affable personality.

I asked Bashir whether the CTO has seen tangible progress between DBSF events of Africa’s migration, fully conscious of the fact that South Africa is well overdue for its own DTT launch. Bashir reported that East Africa was doing particularly well, with Kenya and Tanzania forging ahead, followed by Uganda. Nigeria and Ghana are leading the way in West Africa, with Sierra Leone and Senegal trailing a bit behind. Southern African countries are either in the planning stage or, like South Africa, in the trial and preparatory stage.

It is the small countries, such as Malawi, that are of concern to the CTO simply because they do not have sufficient funds for migration which requires huge amounts of costly digital transmission and broadcast equipment, the construction of towers etc. According to Bashir, digital migration in the UK cost between £5 and £10bn and he estimates that it will cost around R10bn in South Africa.

However, Bashir stressed that he genuinely believes the old maxim, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ and maintains that digital migration will fuel growth in African countries. Public awareness is a key driver in the process and migration must involve all stakeholders, not just government.

He noted that it’s key that Africa’s migration should happen on a regional basis as once a country has migrated, its digital signal will interfere with the analogue signals of neighbours.

The DBSF runs until 24 February at the Protea Hotel Balalaika Sandton.

Screen Africa has been a proud media partner of the DBSF since the latter’s inception. The February issue of Screen Africa will be distributed at the event.
To read about Bashir Patel’s take on the A-Z of digital migration and his fascinating views on what the next revolution in technology will be see the March issue of Screen Africa.

Joanna Sterkowicz

« go back