South Africa has earmarked about $250 million (about Sh23 billion) this year to buy set top boxes for its poorest citizens before switching off analogue television signals sometime after the global June 17 deadline.
Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi said the move is part of a recent government policy on migrating from analogue to digital terrestrial television approved by the country’s Cabinet that will see to more than five million set top boxes being given away to poor households.
“For the 2014/2015 financial year government has budgeted a total of R3 billion (about Sh23 billion),” Muthambi told journalists recently, adding that Cabinet’s approval of the policy allows for the roll-out of set-top boxes to begin.
Viewers will be required to present national identification, as proof of citizenship, and a TV licence, as proof they own a set. There are approximately ten million television households in the country, about two million of which receive pay-TV digital satellite services from MultiChoice and TopTV.
To avoid having the free set top boxes resold outside the country, the minister said they will come equipped with an access control system.
However, Muthambi disclosed that South Africa will not meet the international deadline to switch off analogue television signals by June 17, adding that a switch-off date will be announced at a later date.