Padayachie talks spectrum, digital TV plans

12 Sep 2011

Communications minister Roy Padayachie has provided a little more clarity on government's thinking about digital terrestrial television and what it would like to see happening once broadcasters switch off their analogue signals, freeing up big chunks of scarce radio frequency spectrum.

Padayachie says part of the "digital dividend" - the spectrum to be freed up around 700MHz and 800MHz - will be set aside for mobile communications services. The department of communications is taking advice from industry regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), on "a suitable approach to the licensing of the digital dividend and other high-demand bands".

Competition for the spectrum freed up is set to be fierce, and Padayachie says a Joint Spectrum Advisory Group has been tasked with advising ICASA on the best method for allocating the spectrum and this should be operational by the end of the month.

Continue reading the full story on www.TechCentral.co.za.

Source: TechCentral

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Craig Wilson

About Craig Wilson

Craig Wilson is an ICT journalist and speaker based in Johannesburg. He is deputy editor at TechCentral, the South African source for technology news, reviews and opinion, and regularly provides insight into the technology industry for radio and television. Email him at az.oc.lartnechcet@giarc, follow @craigwilson on Twitter and connect on LinkedIn.