The Government of Botswana has chosen the implementation of Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial (ISDB-T) as its preferred Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) standard.
The reason for the preference of ISDB-T is due to it providing simultaneous transmissions to fixed, mobile and portable receivers from one transmitter.
It is hoped the deal will help the country as it looks to meet the international target of 2015 for migration from analogue to digital signal.
Mokgweetsi Masisi, minister for presidential affairs and public administration, said: “The adoption of the ISDB-T standard was the result of a thorough process of research and evaluation of available options, in order to determine the most appropriate DTT standard for our country as we move forward to meet our switchover target of 2015.
“This process has involved comparative testing between the two leading international standards, namely Digital Video Broadcasting-Television second generation (DVB-T2) as well as ISDB-T. I can now report that the tests revealed that the ISDB-T standard has significant advantages over DVB-T2.”
Masisi said that this “capacity allows for the provision of direct transmission to Botswana through multiple handheld devices, including cell phones, as well as traditional receivers. Because there is no need to go through network providers such reception will come at no additional cost to the consumer.”
Furthermore Masisi said the ISDB-T standard is favourable in the “context of its adaptability as a platform for socio-economic development, as well as entertainment.”
He added DTT is anticipated to be another driver in the government’s efforts to transform the country into an “e-society.”
