This process will enable the permanent release and awarding of the IMT (mobile telecoms) radio frequency spectrum

The authority on Friday published the final radio frequency spectrum assignment plan for the frequencies between 470MHz and 694MHz, “thereby providing a plan for the phased approach in implementing the analogue television switch-off into digital terrestrial television (DTT) through a single frequency network”.

The assignment plan in this band will “further expedite and fast-track the implementation of DTT, and the concurrent release of the first and second digital dividend spectrum for the deployment of” mobile broadband technologies.

Restacking

The 2013 terrestrial broadcasting frequency plan did not allow for a direct migration from analogue to digital television, Icasa explained, but rather for a two-stage process that would first allow analogue television to be transmitted in parallel with DTT (known as “dual illumination”), followed by a “restacking” process of frequencies to release the digital dividend between 694MHz and 862MHz.

Icasa acting chairman Keabetswe Modimoeng said the new frequency assignment plan, and other measures, will allow for the immediate availability of the 470MHz to 694MHz band for DTT at the time of analogue television switch-off – a date for which has not yet been set.

Icasa chairman Keabetswe Modimoeng

The restacking process of the DTT services currently operating in the digital dividend bands to below 694MHz should culminate in the clearing of the 700MHz and 800MHz frequency bands for the deployment of mobile broadband sooner than anticipated.