More time to comment on digital migration

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 12 Apr 2007

Stakeholders who wish to provide input on government's draft digital migration strategy and implementation plan, but were unable to meet the 5 April deadline, have until the middle of April to submit their comments to the Department of Communications.

The department has extended the deadline to submit input on government's plan to migrate from an analogue to a digital broadcasting platform to Monday, 16 April.

Spokesman Albi Modise says the department is granting an extension to give ICT stakeholders the opportunity to comment. He could not say how many parties had provided written comments on the matter by 5 April.

However, he notes the department would like to ensure all interested industry players are given the opportunity to have their say before the plan is finalised and taken to Parliament.

Much of the media coverage on the matter has been negative, especially with regard to the potential impact of the migration process on the licensing of pay-TV operators.

Modise says the strategy is not carved in stone, and the department welcomes written comments.

Stakeholders in the broadcasting digital migration process, including the digital migration working group, telecommunications operators (fixed and mobile), content developers and producers are invited to submit their input on the matter, he says.

Government departments, organised labour, non-governmental organisations, as well as members of the public, are also invited to comment, he adds.