- Ministry of information and Broadcasting Services

Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
Digital Migration National Task Force
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
Guide and Notes
Introduction
HAVE YOU HEARD OF DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION (DTT)
Television broadcasts have been transmitted in analogue format since the
1940’s. Analogue terrestrial television uses one frequency to carry one
television programme channel. This means if a broadcast area (Lusaka)
has an allocation of only 4 frequency channels, then only a maximum of 4
programme channels will be transmitted.
Furthermore, each broadcaster will have their own transmitter to carry their
content; this means that the broadcast area will have 4 transmitters at different
sites in the broadcast area. An inefficient way of use of spectrum.
Due to advancement in technology including that of television broadcasting
and the scarcity of frequencies (spectrum) and the competing requirements
with other ICT applications, the International Telecommunications Agency a
UN agency set the 17th June 2015 for countries to migrate from analogue to
digital terrestrial television (DTT). This will enable the efficient use of spectrum
and freeing up of some frequencies for other ICT applications (Digital
Dividend).
Whereas analogue terrestrial television uses one frequency to carry one
programme channel, digital terrestrial television (DTT) uses one frequency to
carry multiple programme channels, thereby allowing for transmission of many
television programmes using fewer frequencies and at a lower cost.
This means in each location in Zambia, one digital transmitter is capable of
carrying all existing analogue channels (ZNBC, ZNBC TV2, MUVI, MOBI,
TBN, CBC and others) channels simultaneously. Therefore, there is no need
for all broadcasters to have to put up their own transmitters, multiplexers and
network.
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What is Digital
Terrestrial Television
WHAT IS DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION SWITCH OVER?
This is the process when digital terrestrial television will be introduced to
replace the current analogue terrestrial television. A date of 31st December
2013 has been set for when all Southern Africa Development Community
member states would have switched over to DTT. As a country Zambia has
set 31st December 2014 as a date by which all analogue terrestrial television
should have been switched off. This is Analogue switch off commonly known
as ASO. This will entail that both analogue and terrestrial television will
be simultaneously transmitted for the period during digital switch over and
analogue switch off (ASO). This is termed simulcast.
After 17th June 2015, analogue television transmission will not be protected
from harmful interference caused by digital television transmissions. Analogue
television transmissions will not be allowed to interfere with digital television
transmissions. Zambia being a landlocked country with 8 neighbors has to
migrate to digital terrestrial television as failure to do so will affect the country,
particularly, in border areas.
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The Benefits of Digital
Terrestrial Television
WHY GO DIGITAL?
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More content in terms of television programmes is provided
A brighter, sharper picture and much better sound quality
More efficient use of network capacity
Wider choice in television and radio channels
Enhanced information services including Electronic Programme Guide
(EPG) and interactive services like Video On Demand, e services, home
shopping
Uniform coverage for all broadcasters both in quality and area from each
transmitter
Entry into television broadcasting beneficial since capital expenditure
is reduced due to removal of acquisition of transmitters and other network
requirements
Pay television services DTT can easily facilitate a full bouquet of services
and incorporate a paying/billing system(conditional access and subscriber
management)
Bridging the digital divide( gap between people with effective access to
digital and information technology and those with limited access or none at
all.
May present opportunities for local manufacture and assembly of receiving
devices, such as, Set Top Boxes (STBs), Integrated Digital Television set
(IDTV).
When are we going
Digital
WHEN ARE WE GOING DIGITAL
The migration to digital television is a huge programme to implement, but
Zambia is well on its way. Technology has been tested, set top boxes and
broadcast signals have been tested.
Zambia aims to roll out to the public during the second half of 2013, but the
following should be available too
• Broadcasters having upgraded their channel production services and have
channels ready to broadcast
• STBs and other receiving devices are available including IDTVs
It is the intention of the country to get it right first time, Zambia will be switching
over to full digital terrestrial television broadcasting making sure everything is
working properly as we go.
Digital Migration in
Zambia
DIGITAL MIGRATION IN ZAMBIA
Zambia is in the process of implementing and undertaking a mass roll out of
second generation Digital Video Broadcasting terrestrial (DVB-T2) technology
standard with Moving Picture Expert Group 4 (MPEG 4) compression. This
is an enhancement of Digital Video Broadcasting terrestrial (DVB-T) that was
decided as a standard for DTT in the ITU region 1. This was at the Regional
Radio Conference of 2006 (RRC-06) held in Geneva. This resulted in a
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broadcast digital plan which was consolidated in Geneva 2006 agreement
(GE-06).
The Geneva 2006 agreement defines DVB-T as a standard for DTT in region
1, and on the basis of which all national frequency plans are coordinated with
neighbouring countries and filed with ITU. Zambia belongs to region 1 of the
ITU frequency family together with other African and European countries.
DVB-T2 has enhanced features and an evolvement from DVB-T. The SADC
region on 24th November 2010 at a meeting held at Intercontinental Hotel,
Lusaka resolved to implement DVB-T2 as a regional standard.
What will it cost
WHAT WILL IT COST?
TV viewers will incur a once-off cost to buy a Set Top Box. The free-to-air
channels such as ZNBC and all terrestrial free to air channels will continue
to be available for free - no subscription fee will be charged. You may still be
required to pay your TV levy.
The final price of the STB is still to be determined and will depend on the
functionalities as some STBs have added features such as recording
capabilities. Consumers will be informed in due course once STBs are
available to market and the purchase price has been determined.
CAN'T AFFORD IT?
Government is also developing a Scheme to allow ownership to support poor
families that are unable to afford STBs. Once the details of the scheme has
been finalised and the scheme is ready to be rolled out, consumers will be
informed on criteria for qualification and the application process.
It is also envisaged that tax waivers and subsidies will be granted by
Government to mitigate the cost of transition both to broadcasters as well as
consumers in terms of broadcasting equipment and receivers respectively.
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What is DTT?
DTT stands for digital terrestrial television (or digital terrestrial transmission). It refers
to the terrestrial broadcasting of television in a digital format. Currently, terrestrial
television in Zambia is broadcast in an analogue format. The country is in the process
of implementing migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.
What is the difference between analogue TV and digital TV?
Terrestrial television uses a network of transmission towers to relay the signal across
network of coverage that provides television signals across the country. The broadcast
signal is sent to the various towers and if you are within the area covered by a tower,
you will be able to receive the broadcast services via a terrestrial aerial – which is
usually place on your roof or on your television set.
In analogue, the signal is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves. This is not
can be compressed – this will therefore allow for more channels to be broadcast. A
minimum of twenty new video SD channels can be provided in the same frequency as
one analogue channel.
Satellite television broadcasts, on the other hand, uses satellites in the sky to relay the
signal to earth via a satellite dish and is referred to as Direct to Home (DTH).
Why are we migrating from analogue to digital?
The main reason for the world’s migration to digital is to release valuable spectrum
which can be used for other services. Spectrum is scarce; ther
of the spectrum is necessary if more terrestrial telecommunications and broadcasting
services are to be made available. Zambia also coordinates its frequency plans with
other countries to ensure that there is no interference between various countries’
broadcasting signals. Currently, analogue broadcasting is protected from interference,
but this protection will stop by 2015. It is therefore necessary to complete the migration
from analogue to digital by 2015.
Has this migration been done elsewhere in the world?
Yes. Worldwide all countries will have to do the migration to ensure ongoing
coordination and protection from interference. Examples of countries that
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are advanced in their migration process include the United Kingdom, New Zealand,
Sweden, the United States, France and Mauritius.
Will I need a satellite dish to receive DTT?
No, you will not need a satellite dish to receive DTT. The satellite signal is not the same
as the terrestrial signal, which is received using a terrestrial TV aerial.
Will I need a new aerial to receive DTT?
It is unlikely the most current viewers of ZNBC and other private free to air terrestrial
TV services will require a new aerial to receive DTT. However, some viewers may
require new aerials, or may need to upgrade existing aerials. In some instances
aerials may have to be adjusted. At this stage it is unclear who will be affected by such
adjustments, but the majority of viewers will not require any changes to their aerial
installations.
Will I need any other additional equipment to receive DTT?
You will need to have a DTT Set Top Box. This Set Top Box is not the same as the
Multichoice satellite box or the current GOTV decoder. However, there are on the
market in Europe Integrated Television sets (IDTV) that have digital tuners that are
compatible to directly receive the digital signal with in- built digital tuners.
What is a Set Top Box (STB)?
The Set Top Box is a receiver that will decode the digital signal to enable the channels
to be displayed on your analogue television set. This Set Top Box will plug directly into
your TV set.
Why do I need a Set Top Box?
You need a device that decodes the digital signal received via a standard aerial
antenna and supplies the TV set with a video signal. Without the Set Top Box you will
be unable to view the digital television services on your television set if it is not an
integrated digital TV set. There are also other gadgets that are being developed to
substitute Set Top Boxes that are plugged into the analogue TV sets.
What will the Set Top Box cost?
Currently the cost has not been determined for the DVB-T2 Set Top Box, however
measures are being made to make these inexpensive. This will be a once-off cost for
purchasing the STB.
Do you need a Set Top Box to receive the DTT services if you have
DSTV?
DSTV is a satellite service. The satellite signal is different from the DTT signal and the
two systems are not compatible. DSTV subscribers will continue to receive the existing
and some future channels. However, if you wish to receive all the DTT freeto-air services you will have to purchase a DTT Set Top Box or Integrated television
set.
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How is the Set Top Box installed?
The Set Top Box is a plug and play device. It is installed by connecting the cable from
the TV aerial to the Set Top Box (normally RF IN at the back) and then follow the Set
Top Box installation menu using the supplied manual. You could also get assistance
for installation by a professional installer.
Yes, if you want each individual TV set to view a different channel. Other models of Set
Top Boxes with functionality that allows you to connect more than one TV to a single
Set Top Box may be developed and made available at a later stage. This STB will
however be more expensive.
Will I need to buy a new television set to receive DTT?
No, you do not need to buy a new TV. All current analogue television sets will be able
TV to receive DTT. A TV that is ‘digital ready’ or ‘HD ready’ does not mean that it can
receive the digital TV broadcasting without a STB. Only TVs that have an integrated
DVB-T2 tuner will be able to receive the digital signal.
You should also be cautious of buying old analogue technology products just because
it is cheap. Analogue technology is being phased out around the world.
How do I establish if my TV will be compatible to the Set Top Box?
All television sets will be compatible to the STB – either via the RF/Aerial input in older
television sets, or via the RCA/audio and video inputs in modern television sets
When will the Set Top Box and the new DTT services be available to me?
It is anticipated that the service will be available to the public in 2013. However, there
are a number of issues that still need to be resolved before the service is available
to the public. This includes the procurement and installation of a countrywide DTT
network.
It is also important to note that the digital network will be rolled out over a period of
three years. Therefore, you will need to check when the digital signal will be available
ct areas of coverage
and when these will be covered closer to the time of the public launch of the service.
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What if I cannot afford the Set Top Box? Does this mean that I will not be
able to watch television after 2013?
The Task Force on Digital Migration and Government are working on plans to establish
a mechanism to support ownership of STBs to assist poor households that cannot
afford a Set Top Box. More information will be available in due course about how to
access the subsidy and how government will monitor and control the process.
Will this migration only affect the ZNBC?
No. The migration will affect all terrestrial free-to-air channels in the country.
What are the benefits of digital TV?
Digital TV will give you access to more free-to-air channels, in addition to the current
channels offered by ZNBC and the other terrestrial free to air channels. Broadcasters
intend to make a range of new services available on the additional channels, including
interactive services such as games, weather and information services. Other benefits
include better picture and sound quality, access to an Electronic Programming Guide
(EPG) in the television screen, enabling you to view your TV guide on the TV screen
Why is the DTT launch to the public taking so long?
The digital migration process is extremely complex and requires the cooperation and
agreement of several stakeholders in the industry. Significant progress on many key
issues has been made, but there are still areas that need to be completed before a full
DTT launch can take place. This includes the finalisation of DTT policy and regulations
and the issuing of licences to terrestrial broadcasters by the authorities, the finalisation
of a frequency plan, the roll-out of the DTT technology, the technical specifications for
STBs, and the development of channel content by broadcasters. This is expected to
be completed during 2013.
What is the Digital Migration National Task Force?
The Digital Migration National Task Force is an advisory body that was established to
manage the digital migration process on behalf of Government. The Digital Migration
National Task Force is made up of a wide range of representatives from government,
broadcasters, Mobile service providers which were appointed by the Minister of
Information and Broadcasting Services.
Who are the various role players and what are their roles?
Digital Migration National Task Force – a body established to oversee the migration
process for the country.
Broadcasters – terrestrial broadcasters need to migrate their services onto digital.
The main affected broadcasters are and ZNBC, MUVI, MOBI, TBN, North West TV
and CBC. They will be responsible for establishing new services, migrating existing
services to digital.
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Broadcasters are the most affected parties in the process (apart from consumers/
the public), as they will have to manage analogue and digital services during the dual
illumination transition period – i.e. a period of approximately two years during which
both the analogue and digital signals will run parallel, whilst migration is
being completed.
Signal Distributors – responsible for rolling out the digital network infrastructure
on behalf of broadcasters. The main signal distributor will be established. Other
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Government – responsible for developing the policy for broadcasting digital migration.
They are also responsible for ensuring that funding is available for the implementation
and the scheme for ownership support for poor households, The Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting Services and Ministry of Transport, Works Supply and
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ZICTA – the regulator responsible for regulating the telecommunications and
broadcasting sectors. ZICTA will be responsible for the frequency planning and
allocations, and may issue licences for digital services. New digital services cannot be
launched without a licence or authorisation from ZICTA.
Manufacturers – responsible for the manufacturing of STBs and to ensure that the
boxes are compliant with the standards set and do actually work.
Retailers – making the STBs and integrated television sets available for purchase by
the public and to provide accurate information to consumers so that they can make the
right choices when purchasing STBs. Other organisations are also included here such
as provincial and district offices.
Consumers – responsible for ensuring that they have the information they need to
make informed choices and to ensure that they get the necessary STBs timely before
the analogue signal is switched off.
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Republic of Zambia
©Digital Migration National Task Force
Digital Migration National Task Force
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
Guide and Notes