afrol News, 22 October - The South African government has announced a R400 million (about US$54 million) scheme to help poor households to be able to switch from analogue to digital when the country moves to a total digital broadcasting in November next year.

The scheme which its finer details are yet to be finalised will ensure that ensure that poor people are not left behind when South Africa makes the complete switch from analogue television broadcasting, according to Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda, speaking during a two-day summit aimed at discussing the STBs manufacturing strategy that will allow local companies to entirely manufacture the devices.

The government online agency, BuaNews reported that through the scheme, which will be called Scheme for Ownership Support (SOS), the government will subsidise the Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) which convert the digital signal into analogue signal.

Government is anticipated to subsidise 70 percent of the expected R700 cost of the STB, meaning that poor households could pay only R300, the agency reported.

The Communication Minister is further reported to have revealed that cabinet had approved an amount R400 million to subsidise around five million poor households.

"For its part, government has already made a decision to support poor TV-owning households and we are in the process of finalising the details regarding the implementation of the support scheme," the minister was quoted, adding that once the details of the scheme have been finalised and ready to be rolled out, consumers will be informed on criteria for qualification and the application process.

South Africa is currently in a dual-illuminating period where both digital and analogue signals are available. On 1 November 2008, the country officially switched-on the digital signal, while the analogue signal is expected to be switched-off on 1 November 2011.

The STBs are expected to be available at retail stores during the first half of 2010.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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