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TV readiness for
2010
ADSL
South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 9 April
2007
It’s proposed
in a strategy paper that Sentech ‘…should be relieved of all
other duties to ensure television readiness for 2010’ (Sentech
‘must focus on digital switch,’ Stones, Business Day, 5 April
2007).
What’s meant by ‘television readiness for
2010’?
It’s in reference to the
successful switch from analogue to digital technology before
the Soccer World Cup of 2010 where television broadcasts are of
a concern.
Is it really necessary that Sentech ‘…should
be relieved of all other duties to ensure television readiness
for 2010’?
Yes.
‘A BILLION-rand project to
upgrade television broadcasts from analogue to digital
technology is so crucial that signal distributor Sentech should
be relieved of its other duties, industry experts have
proposed’ (Sentech ‘must focus on digital switch,’ Stones,
Business Day, 5 April 2007). ‘The proposals come in a 61 page
Draft Broadcasting Digital Migration Strategy drawn up for the
communications department’ (Sentech ‘must focus on digital
switch,’ Stones, Business Day, 5 April 2007).
In other words, industry experts
believe that Sentech won’t be able to switch from analogue to
digital in time if its not relieved from all other
duties.
ADSL South Africa tends
to agree with industry experts on this because of the
following:
-
Sensible
option – ‘…the strategy document
suggests that would be the sensible option’
(Sentech ‘must focus on digital switch,’ Stones,
Business Day, 5 April 2007).
In other words,
it would be an option marked by sound judgement and
not one marked by risky
ambitions.
-
Lack of
cash – ‘Sentech is struggling to
achieve its goals because of a lack of cash. Chief
financial officer Siddique Cassim hopes that crisis
will end when it is given permission to raid the
government’s R3bn contingency fund. So far its
request to draw on that money has not been
answered. Nor has the department granted its
request to borrow money from the private sector
instead of relying on government handouts’ (Sentech
‘must focus on digital switch,’ Stones, Business
Day, 5 April 2007).
In other words,
Sentech is nothing more than a sitting duck while
waiting on much needed Government
funding.
-
‘…haemorrhaging of quality
technicians’
– ‘…which insiders blame on managerial
incompetence and an atmosphere of victimisation’
(Sentech ‘must focus on digital switch,’ Stones,
Business Day, 5 April 2007).
In other words, it’s
best for Sentech to focus on one project rather to
risk spoiling the lot with ‘managerial
incompetence’ and victimisation.
Will
the new proposals be accepted?
It seems unlikely that it will be
the case ‘...since they clash with previous strategies
emanating from the communications department’ (Sentech ‘must
focus on digital switch,’ Stones, Business Day, 5 April
2007).
According to Director General
Lyndall Shope-Mafole, ‘Sentech’s mandate is not likely to
change…’ (Sentech ‘must focus on digital switch,’ Stones,
Business Day, 5 April 2007).
In other words, chances seem good
that the new proposals will not be accepted because of some
people’s unwillingness to retrace their
steps.
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