South Africa announces March 31 for analogue switch-off

South Africa is set to switch off its analogue TV services at the end of the month.

The country’s Communications and Digital Technologies department will culminate its analogue-to-digital migration, which began in 2006 in accordance with the ITU Regional Agreement in Geneva (GE06) that determined that Region 1 countries must migrate from Analogue Television to Digital Television by the 17th of June 2015.

During his 2021 state of the nation address, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that the country would cease to broadcast analogue services on March 31 2022. This date will end the dual-broadcast of Analogue and Digital signals in the country. 

The minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has said that the following conditions have been met as specified in the CASA Digital Migration Regulations published in Government Gazette No. 36000 of December14 2012:

• That the electronic communications network service licensee, SENTECH, appointed to provide signal distribution services to the SABC has ensured that the digital broadcast signal for the SABC has reached hundred percent (100%) through the terrestrial and the satellite networks; and
• The coverage requirements for Multiplexes 1 and 2 based on the terrestrial television broadcasting service licensees’ conditions have been met, for those licensees who have appointed an electronic communications network service licensee to provide signal distribution services.

The department has also factored in the implementation of moves to assist indigent TV-owning households with access to set-top boxes. The minister said that she is satisfied with the number of indigent households that have registered for government assistance and progress with installations.