STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER

 

DR B.S.S.DLAMINI

 

AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SWAZILAND DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION MIGRATION POLICY

 

AT THE ROYAL SWAZI CONVENTION CENTRE

 

WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2013

 

Honourable Ministers

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Today is a highly significant moment in the history of telecommunications in our country. It must be fairly clear, from the presentations we have had, how significantis the migration from analogue terrestrial television to digital terrestrial television, not only for Swaziland but also for the region and, indeed, the entire international community.

Our previous speakers today have reminded us how essential it is that we, and the international community, make the move from analogue to digital.

We have learned that, at the 2006 Regional Radio Communication Conference, under the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the resolution was made to switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting by June 2015.

The ITU is responsible for standardization and regulation of radio and telecommunications worldwide, and we, as a signatory, are bound by ITU agreements. Furthermore, as a member state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) we are committed to its decision that our region shall switch over from analogue to digital television by the end of 2013.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is the formal, protocol side of things. What does this transition mean in reality?

Television, as we know, plays a vital role in education, information dissemination, cultural development, national identity, and the free flow of information that a government needs to inform its people. So what was wrong with analogue television? The answer lies in the word “efficiency.” Digital brings more efficient communication and more efficient use of resources.

Analogue television is able to carry a single television programme per transmitter. Digital terrestrial television can carry multiple programmes on a single transmitter giving us new opportunities for the broader and wider usage.

Digital broadcasting facilitates the delivery of e-government services, the opportunity for developing new skills and the creation of new jobs, and new investment opportunities. Digital television broadcasting will also facilitate the delivery of education programmes which will enhance Government’s aim to ultimately provide free education to all primary and high school students. It will be making a direct contribution to socio-economic development and an improved quality of life for our people.

And digital television makes more efficient use of resources. We have been told that the Frequency Spectrum is a scarce resource. Digital migration will create more available space in that Spectrum by using new technologies offered on the digital platform. It will offer more channels and, therefore, a more diverse content for the public. Video and audio will be of superior quality. With less transmitter power needed, transmission costs will be lower.

So how prompt and effective is our own Government’s response in addressing the challenge presented by the migration to digital terrestrial television?

Well, in the first instance we recognised that, for the digital migration process in Swaziland to be successful within the planned timeframe, it would be necessary to have a Swaziland Digital Terrestrial Television Policy, matched by an implementation plan, with full stakeholder involvement.

I am pleased to say that the multi-stakeholder team led by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, has produced that Policy, which went on to be approved by Cabinet.

The Policy basically establishes the policy environment within which terrestrial digital television broadcasting is to be implemented in Swaziland, enabling all households, of whatever income, to obtain digital terrestrial television services. It identifies a definite cut-off date for existing analogue broadcasting services and a date for the introduction of new digital television services with a reasonably comfortable overlap – an 18 months “dual illumination period”. The Policy also provides for the delivery of formal educational programmes through television, for primary, secondary and tertiary students.

The Policy also provides a framework for the establishment of a National Broadcasting Infrastructure Agency (NBIA) which will be responsible for the provision of a national broadcasting infrastructure for all television broadcast aspirants. It will also manage the digital broadcasting multiplexing requirement. The Policy provides for television services in both Siswati and English languages, and for access to people with special needs.

There is also provision for the development of the creative industries including the creation of local content.

 The broad implementation plan is as follows:

 

• The switch-on date for the digital terrestrial television signal is 1 January 2014, and the switch-off date for analogue terrestrial television signal is 17 June 2015.

 

• The National Broadcasting Infrastructure Agency (NBIA) will be established, by law, to manage and develop the national broadcasting infrastructure in the country on a non-preferential and non-discriminatory basis.

 

• A regulatory authority will be established to provide the regulatory function.

 

• To ensure universal access to digital television signals Government will investigate how the set top boxes can be made affordable and available to the very poor households.

 

• The Digital Terrestrial Television Roadmap Team (DTTRT) is established to guide implementation and raise public awareness about digital migration in Swaziland.

 

There shall be specific roles for such entities as the broadcasters, the Regulator, the general public, the National Broadcasting Infrastructure Agency, and the Digital Terrestrial Television Roadmap Team. All their roles are outlined in the Migration Policy which I do encourage you to read.

 

Rapid and effective implementation is now essential. The Policy is an essential starting point but it is action that will change the landscape, so to speak. The detailed Implementation Plan needs to be drawn up as soon as possible. The Plan will show Government putting in place the appropriate legislative and regulatory frameworks, as well as the necessary communications infrastructure for a smooth migration.

 

It will be particularly important to identify and implement the measures that will enable all consumers to procure set top boxes and digital TV receivers at affordable prices. The Plan will also need to identify and provide the appropriate incentives and support for the signal distributor and broadcasters to put in place necessary digital infrastructure and systems. Government will also need to invest in appropriate infrastructure to enhance digital broadcasting signal distribution.

 

The consumer will need to be kept aware of the imminent technology changes, and time will need to be spent exploring other funding models such as public/private partnerships (PPPs), as well as collaborating with our development partners.

 

Free primary education, through digital television, will be available by 1st January 2015, with test broadcasts beginning before that date.

 

I need hardly add that Government is fully committed to achieving a smooth migration and, in this regard, has budgeted a sum of E30 million, to be approved by Parliament, for the digital migration programme.

Bekunene sengikhulumile futsi ngeyetsemba nani nonkhe ningivile. It is now my honour, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to declare the Swaziland Digital Terrestrial Television Migration Policy duly launched.

Thank you.