Following the ANC's Nasrec resolution to fast-track digital migration, communications minister Nomvula Mokonyane says the project cannot be solely dependent on government.
In an interview with ITWeb, Mokonyane admitted a government-driven, government-funded and government-managed approach was not the best option to follow.
Mokonyane, who is in charge of the ministry facilitating SA's digital migration process, said the state is not in a position to put aside R6 billion for the project as the June 2019 deadline nears.
She added that the fact that digital migration was mainly left to the communications sector and its entities to handle, leaving out critical departments, was a disadvantage.
Mokonyane believes the country's switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT) requires diverse intervention that will see government, industry bodies and private sector companies come together to advance the process.
The integration plan, however, runs the risk of being viewed as just more talk from the minister, whose department has been characterised by leadership challenges, missing crucial deadlines and legal battles.
SA missed the June 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union for countries to complete the full switch from analogue to DTT. The migration date has been moved numerous times, with the latest promise being that the switch will be completed by June 2019.
Mokonyane said as primary advisor in government on issues of digital migration, she is more concerned about remedying the situation, rather than dwelling on past failures that have hindered the project's progress.
She is only concerned with determining ways to fast-track digital migration, she noted. "I do believe there is a better way to fast-track; we cannot do it alone. Government cannot do this project alone; it must set standards, create an enabling environment and must call for partnerships."
She explained: "Among government departments there must be collaboration. As we speak, our department is on a bilateral engagement with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Small Business Development, Treasury and the Department of Economic Development.
"We are looking at defining the roles and responsibilities. We believe there are various responsibilities we want to give to each and every component, including the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services. Out of that, we believe also that we must go out and build a relationship with the private sector and industry in particular to deal with this matter."
Mokonyane pointed out the intention is to bring in a multi-disciplinary body that will be set up as an advisory body on digital migration. It will include government entities, the public broadcaster and other organisations in the production space.
The complete advisory body, according to the minister, will be set up by mid- or end-July. "My intention is to make sure we inform Cabinet on this intervention of accelerating digital migration; it's not optional but it has to be done this way."
Responding to whether her envisioned plan is in line with ANC policy, the minister noted she's not the only one that thinks this is the best way forward for digital migration.
"Upon my appointment I have been interacting with people on a one-on-one basis from the different components of the sector, including those who specialise and those in the industry, and everybody is quite keen to partner with government because we cannot do it alone."
The minister continued: "The beauty about the ANC resolution at Nasrec says government must accelerate digital migration. I'm dealing with the 'how' part now.
"They didn't say the 'how' part so once you've got this mandate, your responsibility is to then go and figure out the how. There is no resolution of the ANC that said we shall do the set-top boxes, encryption or non-encryption; it talks about digital migration, the fourth industrial revolution and SA being a smart country."
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