1. Select Committee on Communications and Public Enterprises
SENTECH’S READINESS FOR THE DIGITAL MIGRATION PROCESS AND SUPPORT TOWARDS COMMUNITY RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS
Select Committee on Communications and Public Enterprises
Wednesday, 8 Feb 2017
SENTECH LIMITED |

2. PURPOSE
The purpose on this presentation is to appraise the Select Committee on the following:
Support towards community radio and television stations
Readiness for the digital migration process
SENTECH LIMITED |

3. Community Radio Broadcasters
SENTECH’s National Transmission Network supports:
121 FM community radio services,
5 community TV services, and
5 MW community services.
110 CRB Parliamentary Channel
SENTECH LIMITED |

4. National Community Radios Coverage Map
11 CRB
14 CRB
11 CRB
8 CRB
27 CRB
13 CRB
4 CRB
20 CRB
13 CRB
SENTECH LIMITED |

5. Community Radio Broadcasters Financial support
SENTECH’s transmission network supports 110 CRB parliamentary channel and 121 community radio services across the country. The Company conducted a tariff review and implemented substantially discounted lower tariffs in line with the provisions of the ECA, which require differentiated tariffs in line with the transmission media size.
SENTECH LIMITED |

6. Community TV Broadcasters
Funding Policy
2015 Department of Communications issued a draft discussion on methodology to fund Community Television in a Digital Environment
Industry Workshop
SENTECH conducted a workshop in August 2015 which incorporated all Community TV broadcasters, MDDA, ICASA as well as the DOC
Tariff Acceptance
All Community TV Broadcasters signed a letter of acceptance on the new structure of the DTT Tariff model
Way Forward
Draft Funding Model Policy to be finalized by the Department of Communications
SENTECH LIMITED |

7. Community TV Broadcasters
Cape TV Analogue
DTT Mux 1 – minimum sites required
Population Covered
% of Total Population
6.4%
7.95%
% of Total RSA Area
0.17%
0.76%
Number of sites 1 12
Tariff R R
BSD Subsidy
Net Tariff R R
Tshwane TV Analogue
DTT Mux 1 – minimum sites required
Population Covered
% of Total Population
8.27%
24.54%
% of Total RSA Area
0.68%
2.44%
Number of sites 1 10
Tariff R R
BSD Subsidy
Net Tariff R
Soweto TV Analogue
DTT Mux 1 – minimum sites required
Population Covered
% of Total Population
7.85
24.54%
% of Total RSA Area
0.29%
2.44%
Number of sites 1 10
Tariff R R
BSD Subsidy
Net Tariff R
The tariffs of the Cape TV, Soweto TV and Tshwane TV have increased significantly and this is in alignment with the increases in the number of transmitters and the increased geographic coverage, both of which are determined directly by the National Frequency Plan.
SENTECH LIMITED |

8. Community TV Broadcasters
1 KZN Analogue
DTT Mux 1 – minimum sites required
Population Covered
% of Total Population
1.97%
16%
% of Total RSA Area
0.2%
5,17%
Number of sites 1 28
Tariff R R
BSD Subsidy
Net Tariff R R
TBN Analogue
DTT Mux 1 – Negotiated Sites
Population Covered
% of Total Population
2.05%
6.39%
% of Total RSA Area
0.5%
1.74%
Number of sites 6 14
Tariff R R
Subsidy
Net Tariff
SENTECH LIMITED |

9. DTT Migration Status Update
Sentech successfully completed DTT Rollout to 178 migration sites across the country. Further to the 178 migration sites and to ensure maximized DTT coverage, Sentech is expanding DTT coverage to additional four sites. viz Flagstaff, Nqeleni, Burgersfort and Harrismith. With the exception of Burgersfort and mainly due to community unrest within the area, the other 3 sites have been completed. These terrestrial DTT sites covers about 88% of our population and remaining gap will be covered by the DTH Gap-filler as outlined in the coverage map and below table.
SENTECH LIMITED |

10. DTT Migration Status Update
DTT Optimization and service enhancement
In order to improve customer and viewer experience, Sentech initiated various projects to enhance it network management capabilities and services support structure. These projects are underway and should be completed during the current year as outlined here below;
SENTECH LIMITED |

11. DTT Migration Status Update
Analogue Switch-Off (ASO)
A phased approach is adopted for analogue services termination across South Africa, where ASO takes place in a given province or region at a time before moving onto the next province. The ASO strategy is largely influenced by the STB rollout plan, DTT awareness campaign and the analogue network configuration.
The ASO plan prioritizes protection of services against cross border interference and ensures compliance with the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act applicable to SKA area as tabled here below;
Phase 1 : Northern Cape (including the SKA area) and the Free State province.
Phase 2 : Mpumalanga and a portion of the Kwazulu Natal province.
Phase 3 : Limpopo Province
Phase 4 : North West province
Phase 5 : Eastern Cape province
Phase 6 : Kwazulu Natal province
Phase 7 : Western Cape province
Phase 8 : Gauteng province
Phases one to five addresses the SKA ACT compliance and will mitigate against the risk of cross border interference.
SENTECH LIMITED |

12. DTT Migration Status Update
Analogue Switch-Off (ASO):
South Africa Commenced with analogue switch-off during October 2016 in the Northern Cape. As at the end of January 2017 a total of 14 analogue sites had been switched-off as outlined in a table below.
Expeditious ASO programme will assist in reducing the additional technical capacity and the dual illumination costs required by Sentech to manage both the analogue and digital television platforms. In order to ensure success below key dependencies should be managed in collaboration with all stakeholders;
Availability of compelling content and viewer incentives
DTT awareness campaigns
Availability and distribution of STB’s
Network readiness
Call center and migration support centres
SENTECH LIMITED |

13. SUBTITLE OF PRESENTATION
THANK YOU
SUBTITLE OF PRESENTATION
SENTECH LIMITED |