Positive results in Soweto DVB-T2 trial - M-Net

The new technology, Digital Video Broadcast - Terrestrial (second generation), otherwise known as DVB-T2, will aim to revolutionise the way Africans consume television, re-purposing frequencies to be more effectively utilised away from analogue to digital terrestrial transmissions (DTT) to deliver multi-channel entertainment.

Multi-channel television

What this means is that where a frequency was previously being used by a single analogue television channel, it can now carry several different digital television channels.

This opens up multi-channel television to a wider audience, allowing them more choice and greater variety in their viewing options.

M-Net recently put the new technology to the test, in collaboration with South Africa's eTV, by installing a DTT converter (or set-top box) into 60 homes in Soweto using the DVB-T2 broadcasting standard.

The results of the measured study have been positive and show that DVB-T2 is an excellent technology providing a viable multi-channel television service for communities in terms of efficiency and technical performance.

Embracing a digital future

"African governments have a mandate to embrace a digital future and as a stakeholder whose African roots are very deep, we felt we had to investigate widely, invest in research to explore available technologies and to understand what the best standards would be," says M-Net technical director Dave Hagen.

Hagen is very pleased with the Soweto DVB-T2 trial and what they have contributed to Africa's digital future.

"It's quite amazing and the studies in Soweto have been very instrumental in proving out the theories, in showing the digital quality sound and visuals at work, in taking a critical step toward complying with Africa's agenda on digital migration."

"The deployment of DVB-T2, a second generation standard which conforms to Africa's frequency band plan and international obligations which, will allow Africa not only to leapfrog technology but constitutes an investment for the future - the standard still has a long life ahead of it and none comes close at this stage. Thus, it is the best technology, for long-term, it's reliable, the results tangible, and a verified success which has already started winning international awards," said Hagen.