1. SADC Forum on Analogue to Digital Migration Workshop
Transition from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting : regional experience and best practices
27 – 31 August, Mozambique 2012 by
Shola TAYLOR
ITU Senior International Expert
CEO, Kemilinks International &
former Chairman, ITU Radio Regulations Board

2. Background to Digital Transition Benefits of Digital Transition
Presentation Outline
Background to Digital Transition
Benefits of Digital Transition
Current Broadcast Environment in Africa
Main implementation considerations in Digital Transition
ITU Activities on Digital Transition
Issues of High Importance
Policy Direction, Technical Standards, STB
Switch off dates and related issues
Industry Model and Infrastructure provision
Content Provision
UK, Germany, Finland and USA
Africa and Digital Transition
Can Africa meet the ITU deadline?
Way forward

3. Background to Digital Transition
RRC was to plan all digital terrestrial broadcast services for sound and TV
Two sessions : 2004 and 2006
S1 : established technical basis for regional agreement, including intersessional studies
S2 : to carry out planning exercises + draw the Plan
New Plan based on broadcasting standards: T-DAB for sound and DVB-T for TV
Complex Planning process using complex software
Agreement for digital broadcasting services in the frequency band MHz and MHz
Transition period from 17 June 2006 to 17 June 2015, allowing some countries an additional five-year extension for the VHF band

4. Benefits of Digital transition
Africa’s 1bn population a huge opportunity
Better technical quality, better signals, spectrum efficiency
More programmes accommodated
New multimedia services
Economic and social benefits – GDP, employment etc
Creation of competition for more Local Content

5. Current Broadcast Environment in Africa
Government dominated broadcasting for a long time (PB)
Liberalisation has produced commercial broadcasters
Majority of populace depend on FTA
Access to terrestrial TV still low: less 20% in many African countries
Local Content has improved significantly but remains a major challenge
Pay TV on the rise although still beyond the reach of average African
About 50% of African countries each operate only between 1-2 analogue channels
Digital Transition offers many opportunities for Africa

6. Main Implementation Considerations in Digital Transition
Market driven or policy driven: need for a roadmap
Switch off and Switch on dates and dual illumination considerations
Technical Standards
Spectrum Planning
Network Rollout
Legislation, Licensing regime
Communication Plan
Human Capacity Development
Costs: network, STB
Implementation Strategy

7. ITU Activities
Report ITU-R BT.2140 :Transition from analogue to digital Terrestrial broadcasting
ITU-D Question 11-2/2 “Examination of terrestrial digital broadcasting technologies…”
ITU-D SG 2’s Report on question 9-2/2 “Identification of study topics in the ITU-T
Guidelines for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting
ITU-D study groups which are of particular interest to developing countries

8. Policy direction
In most developed countries market driven with appropriate government intervention
In most developing countries, policy driven and need for a road map
Approach will vary from country to country
Economy
Small and big countries
Extent of terrestrial penetration
Regional Approaches such as SADC Roadmap

9. Technical Standards:
Costs
Spectrum efficiency
Trials
Many standards
ISDB-T: countries in South America/Japan
DVB-T/DVB-T2: European countries/most African countries
Each country to take a decision after appropriate analysis

10. STB Use of STB as a Universal Access tool by Government
Defining Technical Specifications: proprietary/open access
Free to Air Considerations; consumers must not be made to pay for FTA
Addressing issue of Multiple Decoders for Pay TV; possible use of scratch cards
Local manufacturing for bigger countries e.g. South Africa, Nigeria
Affordability: Nigerian targets US$20 for basic STB
Direct Subsidy to consumer virtually unrealistic in Africa because of effective monitoring and resource limitations

11. Switch off Dates and related issues
Short period Reduces dual illumination costs
Reduces risk of technology dumping
Provides sufficient time to for uptake and usage of STBs and digital TVs – before cut off date
National broadcasts will be transmitted as must carry, free-to–view, on any digital terrestrial platform that may be available
In Europe average of 6 years to transit
ANALOGUE
& DIGITAL
DIGITAL
Digital Switch-on:
Analogue Switch-off date:

12. Industry Structure and Infrastructure provision
Signal Distributor separate from content provision
Examples from Europe
South Africa (Sentech etc)
Licence regime review (content vs signal distributor)
Signal Distributor: how many?
Ideally one Signal Distributor – costs etc
Government owned or privately owned SD
1 Govt + 1 or more Private
UK BBC example to focus on content
Ghana PPP model (50%:50%)

13. Success stories also in Ghana and Kenya
Content Provision
Development of local Content is key in maximising the opportunities that the transition brings
In the UK, Private sector led in production of compelling and affordable content
Nigerian content success story result of regulatory intervention including appropriate sanctions
Local Content 80% for FTA and 20% for Pay TV
Content for family belt hours must be local
Result – Multichoice/DSTV created Africa Magic (4 channels today) and now has one of the largest studios in Nigeria fully equipped with HD equipment
Success stories also in Ghana and Kenya

14. UK
Big country
High terrestrial TV penetration: nearly 50% of spectrum between 200MHz - 1GHz or (about 368 MHz) was used to broadcast analogue TV across the country
Government supported process with active private sector participation
Restructured industry model: signal distributors separate from content providers; Private sector led in production of compelling and affordable content
Good communication plan with consistent message to consumers
Economy of scale led to inexpensive STB US$30

15. Germany
Market dominated by cable and satellite services – makes pay DTT difficult to implement
Regional media authorities responsible for the DSO process
A wide publicity campaign was carried out
More broadcasting : 3 nationwide networks DVB-T (public)
up to 4 additional networks region-wise/cities (private broadcasters)  12 to 30 programmes instead of 3 to 7
Added value within broadcasting
introduction of DVB-T2 including plans for HDTV for some programmes
Government subsidised public broadcasters’ equipment upgrade through annual levies on commercial channels up to US$97 000
The incentives and subsidies provided to terrestrial TV broadcasters increased their commitment to DTT roll-out

16. Finland Small country and easy to communicate plan to all households
Realistic and firm date for ASO before the start of DSO, and communicating it to all stakeholders, accelerates process
Commercial and private packagers increased competition in the market (no of channels on offer) and level of digital conversion
Regulatory initiatives (e.g. 10-year waiver of the licence fee) helped make the business case for DTT providers more attractive

17. USA
Subsidy in form of US$40 voucher to purchase DTT STBs helped to increase uptake.
Majority of analogue terrestrial TV stations were switched off in June 2009; some left running to warn households who had not yet bought an STB, to do so before they lost their connection
The “must carry” rules enforced by the regulator required cable operators to carry all free programming offered by DTT broadcasters, to enable households to view these channels even during the transition

18. Advisory for Africa - Implementing digital transition
Approach will vary from country to country
Multi-stakeholder coordination essential
Compelling content (regulatory intervention may be necessary)
Technical Standards: any decision will affect commercial uptake; SADC already has recommended standards
Role of Satcom to complement terrestrial technology
An effective Communication Plan is required
Funding: government support plus incentives to industry
e.g. tax regime, licensing regime

19. Can Africa meet the ITU deadline?
ITU deadline is June 2015
African Union set deadline 31 December 2013
SADC deadline is 31 December 2013
Kemilinks International analysis shows that without a renewed vigour, not more than 60% of African countries will meet the deadline due to
Insufficient commitment by Government
High dependency on terrestrial technology
Low disposable income
Significant number of households to transition
Local Content challenge
Funding issues

20. Way Forward
More engagement with individual countries at high level by regional institutions such as SADC
Peer to peer review reports made available to all countries
More support from international partners
Effective AU intervention
THANK YOU