africa_africa 30/10/2014 16:15 Page 2
Increased costs for
South Africa's DSO
Figures released by South
Africa's National Treasury
suggest that the country's
postponed migration to
digital TV is continuing to
have a heavy cost.
The migration from analogue
to digital terrestrial television
featured prominently
in the Budget Vote
for Communications
following the release
of South Africa’s
medium-term budget
policy statement in
late October.
It was highlighted
that R620m (€43.2m)
would be used to
support the digital migration
programme. Of that, R551m
has been allocated to the
Universal Services and Access
Fund to cover the costs of the
broadcast digital migration
project. An additional R69m has
been allocated to broadcast
transmission provider Sentech
to cover the dual illumination
costs relating to the project.
Compared to the first six
months of 2013/14,
expenditure over the same
CryptoGuard
strengthens Africa base
DVB encryption services
specialist CryptoGuard is
partnering with digital TV
platform operator Satcon
regarding two networks in
Africa. Satcon has decided to
use CryptoGuard’s Conditional
Access platform, and also
CryptoGuard’s Subscriber
Manager System to help
monetise its operation. One
network is in Congo, the other
in Gabon.
“The co-operation with
CryptoGuard is amazing.
CryptoGuard is a flexible, cost-
period in 2014/15 decreased by
R135.914m, or 13.5%.
“This was mainly due to the
decrease in expenditure on
goods and services as the
digital terrestrial television
awareness campaign has been
put on hold, while the ICT
review process will be
completed later in the year,” the
Vote stated.
The shadow
minister of
telecommunications
and postal services,
Marian Shinn (left),
described the
increased funding as
great news, noting
that it more than
doubled the amount
approved.
“The major benefit of the
transition to digital
broadcasting is that it frees up
the analogue bandwidth for
assigning spectrum for
broadband throughout South
Africa. This will be a great
economic boost to service
providers with Internet products
and services to sell and for eGovernment services to be
delivered to even the most
remote areas of the country,”
she suggested.”
effective and reliable CAS
alternative in the market,”
commented Bassam Fahs, IT
and technical manager at
Satcon, who said the plan was
to roll out CryptoGuard on all
its networks in Africa. “Since
the implementation of the
system is so quick and efficient,
we believe that this will be
done in much shorter time than
we have planned.”
“CryptoGuard sees Africa as
a key market and believes
Satcon will be the door opener
to more African markets,”
added Jesper Stål, sales director
at CryptoGuard. “We are really
happy to get yet another
African partner and we believe
a partnership with Satcon will
give our presence in Africa a
flying start.”
iSAT Africa and
Eutelsat boost
digital FTA
ideo solution and system integration
specialist iSAT Africa, part of the
Wananchi Group is partnering with
satellite operator Eutelsat on free-to-air delivery
of African and international digital channels in
Kenya and across East Africa in order to
accelerate the move towards a fully digital
broadcasting environment in the region.
iSAT and Eutelsat will use the high-power African
service area of the Eutelsat 70B satellite to broadcast a
platform of channels to digital head