“ The DVB-T1 set-top boxes are not only in use in Tanzania, even in other countries. The reason is that it is an acceptable standard,” PROF JOHN NKOMA, TANZANIA COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY DIRECTOR GENERAL
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But the use of digital broadcasting has drawn a lot of questions from some information and communication (ICT) experts across the region.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania became the first East African country to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting on December 31, 2012.
But the use of digital broadcasting has drawn a lot of questions from some information and communication (ICT) experts across the region.
Initially, most Tanzanians who migrated from analogue to digital in December last year did so using digital video broadcasting - terrestrial (DVB-T1) set-top boxes.
However, that came even as member states of the East African Community (EAC) had reached an agreement mid last year that the region should migrate from analogue to digital using digital video broadcasting – second generation terrestrial (DVB-T2) set-top boxes. “As EAC members, we had agreed to adopt T2 as the standard technology for the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting even as Tanzania went ahead to switch with T1,” Mr Daniel Obam, an expert in radio and broadcasting communication from Kenya, told a digital dialogue conference in Dubai recently.
Similarly, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) also announced in November 2010 that DVB-T2 would be the preferred standard as the global deadline for switching from analogue to digital nears.
According to the secretary to the Digital Migration Committee for the Government of Ghana, Mr Edmund Fianko, the West African nation is only allowing multiplex operators to bring into the country only DVB-T2 set top boxes. The situation, he said, is the same with Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). Experts say DVB-T2 is preferred because it offers a higher bit rate than its predecessor. This makes DVB-T2 a preferred channel for carrying high definition television (HDTV) signals on the terrestrial TV channel.
Besides, while the DVB-T1 has a single transport stream on its input interface, the DVB-T2 has multiple transport streams. An input interface is the piece of equipment or location at which information can be keyed in from a device such as a computer or television.
“Thus, in short, the DVB-T2 is more efficient than its predecessor….DVB-T2 gives the operator more programmes…it also requires less spectrum and this means that the remaining spectrum can be used for other services….it needs less transmitters than DVB-T1,” Dr Peter Siebert, the executive director for the Geneva-based DVB Project, said at the Dubai event.
But the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) says there is no reason for panicking, saying these technological evolutions will in no way affect Tanzania’s move from analogue to digital.
TCRA director general John Nkoma told BusinessWeek in Dar es Salaam last week that the DVB-T1 was also recommended for receiving digital signals.
He noted that people should not be taken away by unfounded explanation that DVB-T1 was outdated. “The DVB-T1 set-top boxes are not only in use in Tanzania, even in other countries. The reason is that it is an acceptable standard,” said Prof Nkoma
He said even as other EAC member states migrate into digital with DVB-T2, it will have no impact on Tanzania’s plans and no one will be affected in any way.
Reports from Uganda and Kenya have it that multiplex operators have all been told to sell only DVB-T2 set-top boxes in the countries as they prepare themselves to switch from analogue to digital in the coming few weeks.
In September last year, Uganda’s Daily Monitor reported that the country’s Communications Commission even directed a pay TV service provider to immediately withdraw DVB-T1 set-top boxes from the market.
UCC issued the order after consumers petitioned the industry regulator to clarify on an announcement that approved DVB-T2 set top boxes as the standard technology for the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting.
But according to Prof Nkoma, one needs to be technically skillful in order to understand how the two generations of decoders work, including how to detect their difference through the received signals. “If you take the two set-top boxes (decoders) and ask a layman to differentiate them, it becomes difficult to know which one is a DVB-T1 set-top box and which is a DVB-T2 one,” said Prof Nkoma.
According to him, technological advancement in set top boxes (decoders) progresses just like how it (technology) has evolved with mobile phones.
In mobile phones, he said, the coming of complex handsets that can perform various functions does not mean that someone in possession of an old and simple phone will not be able to receive phone calls.
“With the two or three mobile phones of different generations, one can still have the same uses like voice call and sending short messages and some other uses. The only difference comes in some of the features which the new technology might have but missing in the old technology….this is what DVB-T1 and DVB-T2 is all about,” he said.
Taking that example, Prof Nkoma said, you cannot force all people to withdraw their old technology mobile phones to adopt the new generation, while some usages remain the same.
His comments on making clear about the two technology of the decoders comes at the time some people have been raising concern over the country decision to allow the use of DVB-T1 set top box decoders, while some other service providers have flooded the market with DVB-T2 set top boxes.
