Digital TV: set-top boxes a 'waste of money'

10 Oct 2011

M-Net believes South Africa would be far better off scrapping plans to build pricey set-top boxes for digital terrestrial television (DTT) and instead should use the money in other ways.

Karen Willenberg, the broadcaster's director of legal and regulatory affairs, says instead the country should consider the use of much cheaper "digital converters" - these cost R350 or less - rather than investing in complex set-top box technology she believes isn't necessary and could hold up further the already long-delayed digital migration process.

Rather, Willenberg says the country should move quickly to ensure the biggest benefit of migration - the freeing up of scarce radio frequency spectrum for telecommunications operators - is realised as soon as possible.

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Source: TechCentral

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Duncan McLeod

About Duncan McLeod: @mcleodd

Award-wining Duncan McLeod is the founder and editor of TechCentral (wwwTechCentral.co.za, @TechCentral]]), South Africa's latest technology news site offering breaking news, in-depth analysis and opinion that launched in September 2009. Before that, he was associate editor at the Financial Mail/FM. Contact Duncan on email duncan at techcentral dot co dot za and follow him on Twitter at @mcleodd.