South Africa - Details of Trials - History
09.04.2019
On the 29th January 2019 the South African Broadcast Regulator ICASA granted a new eight month DAB+ trial licence which will provide coverage in Johannesburg/Pretoria Gauteng Province. 20 radio services drawn from the PBS, Commercial and Community Radio sectors will participate in the trial. On air date is planned mid-March 2019.
Phase 1 of the initial trial license period focused on network verification processes and this has now been completed. The 2nd phase which focused on audio and data testing has been completed. The new license phase focuses on closed listener group tests and further audio processing and data testing. The public broadcaster the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) applied for this new trial license on behalf of all the other radio broadcasters. South Africa is the first country in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to carry out DAB+ trials.
The trial consists of two high power transmitting stations (10kw transmitter power) 100kw ERP situated in Johannesburg and Pretoria in the province of Gauteng. The trial operates as a SFN in VHF band III on Channel 13F on a frequency of 239.200MHz. Coverage verification at transmitter powers of 2kw, 5kw, and 10kw has been concluded. Extensive testing of vertical polarisation versus horizontal is currently underway. The total area covered by the trial is 21185 km2 and the total gross population covered is 10 705 387 (21.5% of total SA population).
22.02.2019
20 radio services from the Public, Commercial and Community Broadcasting sectors are participating in the trial. Phase 1 of the initial trial license period focused on network verification processes and this has now been completed. The 2nd phase which focused on audio and data testing has been completed. The new license phase focuses on closed listener group tests and further audio processing and data testing. The public broadcaster the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) applied for this new trial license on behalf of all the other radio broadcasters. South Africa is the first country in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to carry out DAB+ trials.
The trial consists of two high power transmitting stations (10kw transmitter power) 100kw ERP situated in Johannesburg and Pretoria in the province of Gauteng. The trial operates as a SFN in VHF band III on Channel 13F on a frequency of 239.200MHz. Coverage verification at transmitter powers of 2kw, 5kw, and 10kw has been concluded. Extensive testing of vertical polarisation versus horizontal is currently underway. The total area covered by the trial is 21185 km2 and the total gross population covered is 10 705 387 (21.5% of total SA population).
It is envisaged that 20 stereo radio channels from the public, commercial and community sectors participate. Not all the broadcasters are from the Gauteng Province and a third of the mux is reserved for community broadcasters.
Mobile TV PTY was awarded a conditional subscription based commercial license by ICASA provided that they submit additional information to ICASA within a stipulated 3 month period. Commercial spectrum for DMB is not currently available until after the TV digital migration process has been completed.
On the 29th January 2019 the South African Broadcast Regulator ICASA has granted a new 8 month DAB+ trial licence which will provide coverage in Johannesburg/Pretoria Gauteng Province. 20 radio services drawn from the PBS, Commercial and Community Radio sectors will participate in the trial. On air date is planned mid-March 2019.
31.01.2019
20 radio services from the Public, Commercial and Community Broadcasting sectors are participating in the trial. Phase 1 of the initial trial license period focused on network verification processes and this has now been completed. The 2nd phase which focused on audio and data testing has been completed. The new license phase focuses on closed listener group tests and further audio processing and data testing. The public broadcaster the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) applied for this new trial license on behalf of all the other radio broadcasters. South Africa is the first country in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to carry out DAB+ trials.
The trial consists of two high power transmitting stations (10kw transmitter power) 100kw ERP situated in Johannesburg and Pretoria in the province of Gauteng. The trial operates as a SFN in VHF band III on Channel 13F on a frequency of 239.200MHz. Coverage verification at transmitter powers of 2kw, 5kw, and 10kw has been concluded. Extensive testing of vertical polarisation versus horizontal is currently underway. The total area covered by the trial is 21185 km2 and the total gross population covered is 10 705 387 (21.5% of total SA population).
It is envisaged that 20 stereo radio channels from the public, commercial and community sectors participate. Not all the broadcasters are from the Gauteng Province and a third of the mux is reserved for community broadcasters.
Mobile TV PTY was awarded a conditional subscription based commercial license by ICASA provided that they submit additional information to ICASA within a stipulated 3 month period. Commercial spectrum for DMB is not currently available until after the TV digital migration process has been completed.
In January 2019, it was announced that the Johannesburg / Pretoria South African DAB+ trial had been granted a new license. The license, renewed as of 30 January 2019, is valid for a period of eight months, with the possibility of a six-month extension.