Pretoria – The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA/the Authority) has published the Final Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plan (RSFAP) for the Frequency Band 470 to 694 MHz, thereby providing a plan for the phased approach in implementing the analogue television switch-off into Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) through a Single Frequency Network (SFN).

The RSFAP in this frequency band will further expedite and fast track the implementation of DTT, and the concurrent release of the First Digital Dividend and the Second Digital Dividend Spectrum for the deployment of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), in order to support the uptake of mobile broadband communications.

The assignment of the frequency band 470 to 694 MHz and the channel arrangement as outlined in the 2013 Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan (TBFP) (updated in 2014), provides that the 2013 TBFP does not allow for a direct migration from analogue to digital television, but rather for a two-stage process which will first allow analogue television to be transmitted in parallel with DTT (dual illumination), following which there would be a restacking process of frequencies to release the digital dividend (694 to 862 MHz).

The Acting Chairperson of ICASA, Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng, says that the RSFAP, among others, will enable the immediate availability of the 470 to 694 MHz band for DTT at the time of analogue television switch-off.

The restacking process of the Digital Terrestrial Television services (DTT1 and DTT2) operating between the frequency band 694 MHz and 862 MHz to below 694 MHz, will culminate in the clearing of the IMT700 and IMT800 frequency bands for the deployment of IMT sooner than anticipated. This process will enable the permanent release and awarding of the IMT radio frequency spectrum – the process that ICASA is currently undertaking for the licensing of high demand spectrum through an auction.

“This is one of the most critical processes on our radar that enables broadcasting service licensees and their signal distribution partners to initiate and include in their business plans, the reconfiguration of the broadcasting network, specifically the DTT Multiplex 1 and 2 systematically, thus, in time for the announcement of the analogue switch off”, says Dr. Modimoeng.

Dr. Modimoeng expresses his gratitude to all stakeholders who took time to participate fully and meaningfully into the development of the Final RFSAP for this frequency band; and further believes that this will clarify and cast the myth surrounding availability of spectrum in this band following analogue switch-off.
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