During the official launch, two new SABC channels were also showcased - SABC Entertainment and SABC International News.
The migration will allow for the release of valuable spectra which can then be used for other services. The public broadcaster estimates that up to eight new channels can be launched using the same bandwidth as one analogue channel.
The minister also said that “the migration is the biggest in recent times, as well as in the region, and that Kenya has also committed to a 2012 deadline. Other countries have will be committing to dates soon.”
She further said that Cabinet has approved sufficient radio frequency spectra, which is freed up by the digital migration process. “Through [this], they would be able to provide new television channels and specialised television services dedicated to education, health, youth [and] sport, as well as three regional service channels.”
“The department will have a Scheme-for-Ownership-Support of Set Top Boxes for the poor, which will help increase universal service and access to such services by vulnerable communities and individuals,” she said.
"The migration to digital process is expected to take a minimum of three years. Viewers will still be in a position to receive the current analogue services of SABC1, 2 and 3 and e.tv and M-Net," said acting SABC CEO Gab Mampone.
The digital migration policy is in line with a decision taken by a specialised agency of the UN, the International Telecommunication Union, that all countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Islamic Republic of Iran should migrate to digital broadcasting by 2015.
The World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly started on 21 October and ended yesterday.
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