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- South Africa hit a milestone when analogue transmitters were switched off.
- Mobile network operators such as Vodacom, MTN and Rain are starting to use the radio frequency spectrum which broadcasters previously used.
- A wider rollout of 4G and 5G networks is expected.
- For more stories, visit the Tech and Trends homepage.
On 31 July, 12 years after the first deadline was set, the government hit a milestone by switching off analogue transmitters in South Africa, which will result in improvements in the scope and stability of mobile networks across South Africa as spectrum becomes available.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technology (DCDT) announced that all analogue transmitters above 694 Megahertz (MHz) had been switched off at the end of July. The spectrum was already auctioned off to mobile network operators who have already begun building the infrastructure required to make use of it for their networks.
Analogue televisions work by receiving radio spectrum that is produced by television transmitters. Digital televisions are more efficient and make use of a much narrower band of frequencies.
The second step of the analogue switch-off plan will see all analogue transmitters switched off in South Africa, according to Tlangelani Manganyi, the communication manager to the Minister of Communications and Digital Technology.
The final deadline for this is 31 December 2024.
By decommissioning analogue televisions, spectrum is freed up, which mobile network operators can use to expand their coverage and improve the stability of their service.
Manganyi said turning off analogue transmitters allowed for the rollout of "the much-awaited high demand frequency spectrum which was auctioned in the previous year".
Mobile network operators, including Vodacom, MTN, Rain, and Telkom bought spectrum in a series of auctions to which they now have access. This means they have the right to provide mobile networks that operate within the frequency range that they reserved.
Rolling out infrastructure
According to Rain CEO Brandon Leigh, the network already has access to the spectrum it bought and it is rolling out the infrastructure required to make use of the spectrum.
"All of us network operators have prepared for getting access to the spectrum, obviously we had to be cautiously optimistic in terms of planning, but after the spectrum auction, everyone got all their planning resolved," Leigh said.
According to him, infrastructure rollout takes time and mobile network operators are at different stages of progress in the rollout, but Rain is rolling out base stations that use the newly acquired spectrum "as we speak".
Vodacom spokesperson Byron Kennedy said it was also rolling out its network in interference-free areas while working together with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to verify the extent to which the frequency band has been cleared from other areas.
"Given the large areas that are affected, we anticipate that it will take the teams a few weeks to conclude their analysis. In the meantime, Vodacom will continue with its planned network rollout in areas that are interference free," Kennedy added.
Jacqui O'Sullivan, the chief of sustainability and corporate affairs at MTN South Africa, said MTN was deploying infrastructure that will make use of the spectrum band it acquired at the auction.
However, O'Sullivan added that it was taking a "conservative" approach to the activation of spectrum "to ensure we don't interfere with existing broadcast systems in this band".
Benefits for consumers
The rollout should increase the network coverage for mobile network operators, specifically for 5G, in Rain's case, said Leigh.
O'Sullivan said MTN would also be able to expand its network coverage and said it would target underserved areas first.
"We note the migration of broadcasters post 31 July 2023 which will enable MTN to activate this spectrum, with the immediate focus to activate the spectrum in underserved areas first in order to meet the 92% population coverage obligation.”
Kennedy said that Vodacom customers could expect an increase in long-term evolution (LTE) evolution areas. LTE is a 4G wireless standard.
Leigh said consumers should be able to expect a more stable network from the increased access to spectrum, but pointed out that it was unlikely due to load shedding.
"Unfortunately, due to load shedding, consumers won't be able to feel that."
It's quite a difficult time for operators to roll out infrastructure, according to Leigh, because towers also need to be powered and there are theft and vandalism issues.
