Three DTT multiplexes for South Africa

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published its Digital Terrestrial Television regulations for final public consultation.
It details three multiplexes, the first of which will be used for public broadcasting and include the SABC and Eastern Cape community station Trinity Broadcast Network. SABC also has to include two regional broadcasters on the multiplex.
The second multiplex will contain commercial free to air broadcasts including E.tv, which will be allocated 60% of the capacity. The additional capacity will be offered to new broadcasters.
Fifty percent of the third multiplex will be reserved for the Pay TV operator M’Net on the condition that it is able to switch all its subscribers from analogue to digital within one year.
ICASA wants to allow for trials by other interested persons, enable for the provision of mobile services such as DVB-H and to provide for M-Net to conduct a hard switch over within a period of 12 months, allowing an early release of the digital dividend.
Complete analogue switch off is planned on November 1, 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th April 2009