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Last update: 05.08.2022 - older versions

South African government directive to licence for digital radio

On 10 July 2020 South Africa's Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, issued the policy directive to the regulator ICASA allowing for the licensing of Digital Sound Broadcasting.

In November 2020, South Africa regulator ICASA launched a consultation on draft regulation for licensing digital radio. The objectives of the draft regulation are to set out the framework for the introduction of DSB (digital sound broadcasting) services and prescribe the procedure for an Applicant seeking to provide DSB services.

The proposal is to consider Applicants without existing sound broadcasting licences two years after the effective date of the Regulations.

New framework for the licencing of digital radio – April 2021

In April 2021, the South African regulator published the new framework for the licencing of digital radio. According to the new regulation, the introduction of digital radio services (locally referred to as “digital sound broadcasting services regulations”) for new applicants will be in a phased approach: phase one will be in the primary markets and phase two will be in the secondary markets. Existing sound broadcasting service licensees may simulcast their existing sound broadcasting programme(s) on analogue and digital platforms. The regulator, which will launch a call for tenders to determine spectrum allocation, will also consider applicants without existing broadcasting licences.

Johannesburg / Pretoria trial renewed

The National Association of Broadcasters (the NAB) and Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association (SADIBA) are currently engaged in a DAB+ trial in the Gauteng province (Johannesburg and Pretoria) and a new greenfield DAB+ trial for Cape Town.

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.

Last update: 18.08.2015 - older versions

The DAB+ trial covers the Province of Gauteng. Please see terrestrial coverage map here.

Last update: 05.08.2022 - older versions

In this country there is

Regional multiplex: 1 Trial

on air.

Please note:

(a) These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b) The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

A new DAB+ trial has been on air since1 June 2022 with a new 8-month trial licence renewable for 6 months. It is currently broadcasting 19 DAB+ services and some more will be added soon. The system is based on a cloud-based mux and covers the Gauteng province with 2X 10kW transmitters operating in a SFN. As part of the trial, they have some radio services based in Cape Town and Durban participating this time. It’s a mix of commercial, public and community services.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	19	1	20

Last update: 28.06.2018 - older versions

The Joint SADIBA/NAB Digital Radio DAB+ trial Working Group is currently meeting on a regular basis with members from the automobile manufactures to encourage their participation by providing a number of vehicles fitted with OEM DAB+ receivers. BMW South Africa has participated extensively in the Trial.

Many new imported automobiles imported into South Africa have DAB+ receivers fitted (Lexus, Toyota, Ford). Ford SA activates all DAB+ receivers in automobiles sold in South Africa.

Last update: 28.06.2018 - older versions

As South Africa is currently in trial status, DAB+ receivers are not officially currently available in the market place although some models have found their way into retail stores.

Last update: 08.11.2019 - older versions

Johannesburg / Pretoria trial renewed

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).

Cape Town trial

In November 2019, a DAB+ Trial Licence for Cape Town South Africa was been granted to Sentech SOC by the regulator ICASA. This site has existing Band III VHF infrastructure and a frequency has become available with the closing of one of the analogue TV services.

Last update: 18.11.2020 - older versions

Regulation

On 10 July 2020 South Africa's Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, issued the policy directive to the regulator ICASA allowing for the licensing of Digital Sound Broadcasting.

The proposal is to consider Applicants without existing sound broadcasting licences two years after the effective date of the Regulations.

The closing date for comments on the draft is 29 December 2020.

Process

The regulator ICASA published in April 2019 the findings of its inquiry into the deployment of digital radio in South Africa, stating that spectrum scarcity and high transmission costs necessitate the consideration of digital radio. ICASA's draft regulation on implementation is anticipated during the current financial year (2019/20), following the government policy directive issued on 10 July 2020 to allow for the licensing of Digital Sound Broadcasting.

In 2018, the Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) Council Committee was formed, the purpose of which is to make progress towards expanding regulatory scope for digital sound broadcasting technologies, and accommodating additional sound broadcasters in conventional and other frequency bands. As part of the enquiry the DSB committee conducted international study visits to Australia, Germany, Norway, USA and United Kingdom.

DAB+ was officially adopted as a South African standard by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) in 2005.

Last update: 13.04.2018 - older versions

Emergency Warning Systems form part of the DAB+ trial parameters.

South African regulator endorses transition to digital radio

08.04.2019 - South Africa

ICASA has published the findings of its inquiry into the deployment of digital radio in South Africa, stating that spectrum scarcity and high transmission costs necessitate the consideration of digital radio. ICASA will develop draft regulation on implementation during the current financial year (2019/20).

(Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) Read more

South Africa on the right path to digitisation

27.11.2018 - South Africa

Led by Mr Ndumiso Dana, a delegation of representatives of the South African regulator ICASA, have just completed a tour visiting Germany, Norway, the UK and Australia to discuss digital sound broadcasting and the many and varied aspects of planning to launch permanent services.

(WorldDAB) Read more

South African MP encourages small-scale digital migration

29.10.2018 - South Africa

South Africa Deputy Minister for Communications Pinky Kekana has encouraged small radio stations, including campus radio stations, to expand into the digital platform and continue to churn out dynamic and informative content. The Deputy Minister also urged community radio stations to ensure they are ready for digital migration once the government was able to work with them.

(Africa Prime News) Read more

South African government publishes Policy Directive on digital radio

01.10.2018 - South Africa

A huge step towards digitising radio in South Africa has been taken by the South African Department of Communications, which published a policy directive on the introduction of digital sound broadcasting in South Africa. Interested parties have been given 30 working days from the date of publication 28 September 2018, to submit written input. Closing date being 9 November 2018.

(Department of Communications - Republic of South Africa) Read more

WorldDAB: DAB+ will promote innovation and new commercial growth for broadcasters

12.07.2018 - South Africa

WorldDAB addresses concerns of South African broadcasters on competition from streaming radio over the internet, the business model for commercial broadcasters and the availability of digital radio receivers.

(TechCentral) Read more

South Africa looks to DAB+ for radio’s future

11.07.2018 -

- Commercial Radio & Audio WorldDAB Member - Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) WorldDAB Member - Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association (SADIBA) WorldDAB Member - South Africa

The DAB Day at Radio Days Africa covered the status of trials in South Africa and the Southern African region, along with case studies from speakers across the world on how broadcasters are using DAB+ to reach new audiences and the lessons learnt from their experiences.

(WorldDAB) Read more

The future for DAB+ in South Africa

09.07.2018 - South Africa

South African Deputy Minister for Communications Pinky Kekana has stressed the benefits and importance of implementing DAB+ digital radio in South Africa. Calling DAB+ “a game changer”, she added, “It provides our citizens with better quality radio, and from a government perspective, it helps us broadcast important emergency messages on all channels simultaneously."

(The Media Online) Read more

South African minister Pinky Kekana describes DAB+ as a game changer

04.07.2018 - South Africa

Deputy Minister of Communications in South Africa Pinky Kekana has described the prospect of DAB+ as a "game changer" in a speech to delegates at Radio Days Africa on 3 July. The Minister said that DAB+ would provide better quality radio, enable the government to broadcast critical emergency information simultaneously, and offer consumers greater content choice.

(South African Government) Read more

Radio Days Africa in Johannesburg on 3-6 July

26.06.2018 - South Africa

The opening day of Radio Days Africa on 3 July will be dedicated to DAB+. Organised in Johannesburg, Radio Days Africa hosts more than 300 delegates each year with 60 speakers from across the continent and around the world.

(La Lettre Pro) Read more

South African government to issue directive to create digital radio licensing framework

25.06.2018 - South Africa

Following the successful trials in South Africa of digital radio broadcasting technologies including DAB+, communications minister Nomvula Mokonyane she will issue a policy directive to the regulator, ICASA, in the next few weeks to pave the way for the development of a licensing framework.

(TechCentral) Read more