ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa 9-11 May 2012 Kigali

1. ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa 9-11 May 2012 Kigali Trends in ICT: Broadcasting Digital Transition and Digital Dividends in Africa by Shola TAYLOR CEO Kemilinks International & former Chairman, Radio Regulations Board, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

2. Outline of Presentation • RR06 and Decisions taken • Broadcast environment in Africa • DB – opportunity to restructure sector in Africa • Policy, Regulatory and Technical – Issues Arising • Simulcast, Signal Distributor, Replanning of GE06 • Standards, STB • Digital Dividend • Benefits of the transition • Key elements of a national strategy

3. Brief on Kemilinks International • Global consultancy firm focused on development of ICT infrastructure in Africa • Set up in 1999 in UK • Associate Consultants - all over Africa, Europe, USA • Liaison officers in some African countries • Handles wide range of ICT consultancy projects up to > US$1m • Consultancy, Training, Events Management and Investment facilitation • Consultancy – ICT policy, regulatory issues • Several major clients across Africa and Europe

4. RRC and Decisions taken • RRC was to plan all digital terrestrial broadcast services for sound and TV • Two sessions : 2004 and 2006 • S1 : established technical basis for regional agreement, including intersessional studies • S2 : to carry out planning exercises + draw the Plan • New Plan based on broadcasting standards: T-DAB for sound and DVB-T for TV • Complex Planning process using complex software • Agreement for digital broadcasting services in the frequency band 174-230MHz and 470-862MHz • Transition period from 17 June 2006 to 17 June 2015, allowing some countries an additional five-year extension for the VHF band

5. Current broadcast environment in Africa • Government dominated broadcasting for a long time • Liberalisation has produced commercial broadcasters • Majority of populace depend on FTA • Access to TV still low: less 20% • Local Content has improved significantly but remains a challenge • Pay TV on the rise although still beyond the reach of average African • Industry structure remains a challenge in many countries

6. Digital Broadcasting- Opportunity to restructure broadcast sector in Africa • Mission objectives of a typical broadcaster • To educate inform and entertain • Industry structure : • Public Broadcaster • Commercial broadcasters • Signal distributors • Issues arising • Regulatory structures: content vs infrastructure • Review of spectrum management philosophy – allocations, assignments, pricing, rights • Creation of specialist or niche broadcast entities to • New Licensing regime

7. Policy and Regulatory: Issues Arising • Policy Direction: National Committees • Introduction of new digital broadcasting media - digital terrestrial broadcasting, mobile broadcasting, IPTV etc • Wide Representation desirable : policy maker, regulator, broadcasters, signal distributors, civil society, organised labour, customs • Digital Switch On date • Analogue Switch off date • Dual Illumination period (Simulcasting) • Public Broadcaster vs Commercial stations • STB (Set top box) • cost • availability

8. Technical – Issues Arising • Spectrum allocation & frequency assignment • Special frequency channels will be allocated to the current broadcasters to provide for the simulcasting in digital format • Selection of suitable standard • Nationwide broadcasting network plan • Licensing – advisable that no further analogue licence should be issued • Infrastructure, particularly signal distribution Infrastructure sharing essential • Training for qualified experts

9. DUAL ILLUMINATION ANALOGUE ANALOGUE & DIGITAL DIGITAL • Reduces dual illumination costs • Reduces risk of technology dumping • Provides sufficient time to for uptake and usage of STBs and digital TVs – before cut off date • Broadcasters must be encouraged to establish a transition plan • National broadcasts will be transmitted as must carry, free-to–view, on any digital terrestrial platform that may be available Digital Switch-on: Analogue Switch-off date:

10. Signal Distribution Model • Establish a common transmission platform for all broadcasting services to optimise available resource • Licensing of Signal distributors to ensure the optimal use of broadcasting infrastructure • Separate signal distribution entity from the broadcasters • Each Signal distributor may provide services on equitable, reasonable, non-preferential and non-discriminatory basis • Incumbents could float a signal distribution company to compete with private broadcasters & other interested investors • Frequencies will be assigned to signal distributors

11. Replanning of GE06 • Much has changed since RRC06 • WRC-07 and WRC-12 • Demand for mobile broadband • 790MHz-862MHz sharing • 698MHz – 790MHz studies • Need for replanning • Need to continue the modification of the GE-06 digital plan in order to accommodate the spectrum required for future mobile broadband • Determine the required number of multiplexes

12. Standards • Broadcast Transmission Standards • DVB-T2 recommended • due to many advantages • Improved efficiency in spectrum use up to 50% • Most widely used • Compression Technology • Adopt MPEG-4 • Television system • SD, HDTV, 3DTV • HDTV/SD format • Ensure labeling of equipment which are compliant with the standards adopted

13. Set Top Boxes • STB – Unique tool for universal service • Encourage local manufacturing • Control System • Possibility to prevent STBs to be used outside given area • Disable the use of stolen STBs. • Encryption Reading Feature • Prevents unauthorised STBs from working in country

14. Digital Dividend • Spectrum Africa 2012 concluded thus: • “There is a need to ensure that the definition of the “digital dividend” should be all encompassing and should include: • The spectrum savings • Multichannel Programme Delivery within the normal Single Analogue Programme Channel • Transmission to multiple platforms for reception or Trans-platform Delivery • Provision of Electronic Programmes Guide – EPG • Electronic Service Guide (ESG) – the Programmes and system information service for Mobile DTV.

15. Benefits of the Transition (I) • Content explosion • Demand for more content will increase • More investment and competition in conten • Licensing of archival materials for conversion to digital format creates additional revenue to content owners; • More choices • Better quality • Interactivity • Access to Universal Access Funds • More jobs

16. Benefits of the transition (II) • Ability to develop new business streams • Value Added Services (VAS) represent additional revenue streams from emergency services, road safety for traffic, air traffic information and other government/private sector concerns; • Infrastructure providers – provision of massive infrastructure to cover the whole country • Mobile operators – New applications like Mobile TV • Local Manufacture of STBs • Digital Transition is not a one size fits all, countries are unique with different advantages

17. Conclusion: Key components of National Strategies • Clear policy on digital broadcasting • Digital Transition Team: clear mandate and funding • Manage stakeholders • Govt, regulator, industry, consumers etc • Infrastructure • replacement and upgrade of existing infrastructure • transit all current sites • add other services after switch-over • Signal Distributor model • Local Content development • Communication Plan • More collaboration between broadcasters and telecom with AUB leading

18. Thank you!