06 Aug 2014

Botswana like all SADC countries and the wider world is progressing well with the implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting.


Acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Shaw Kgathi said in Parliament that the project is in three phases being public education and infrastructure development (transmission and studio) establishment of the Botswana Television (Btv) second channel and related services.


He said the final phase to be concluded in 2017 focuses on value added services such as Data Broadcasting.


Mr Kgathi said P130m will be utilised during the 2014/2015 financial year for the establishment of the National Project Management Office and related project implementation initiatives.


The minister said in June 2014, Botswana hosted the seventh SADC Digital Broadcasting Migration Forum which approved and endorsed SADC guidelines on consumer issues and formed part of the SADC Roadmap on Digital Broadcasting Migration.


Mr Kgathi said most of the requirements for coordination and harmonization of frequencies in the digital environment with neighbouring countries have been met. 


He said Botswana has complied with the requirements of the GEO6 forum, the international administrative forum for the implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting.


Mr Kgathi further said Botswana has develop d and circulated the minimum technical specifications for the Set Top Box (decoders) for nationwide consultation and input by all stakeholders, for purposes of guiding the manufacturing and deployment of standards compliant decoders, and for type approval of such equipment.


He also said Btv was undertaking a modernisation project for the improvement of the quality of the station output. 


A Broadcast Transport System Project is in system project in phase one of its implementation at a cost of P18m.

He said this entails improving the quality and speed of content delivery between Btv control centre and regional offices.

He therefore said Botswana’s Digital Migration Project was in its early stages of implementation. 
Minister Kgathi was answering a question asked by Palapye

MP, Mr Moiseraele Goya, who wanted Parliament to be appraised on Botswana’s status on Digital Television Migration. Ends