Minister dismayed at local content in STBs
18 July 2018
Editor's Choice
News
The Department of Communications issued a statement in which the communications minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, expressed her concern about the lack of adherence to the 30% local content manufacturing rule on the part of some suppliers who manufacture government’s subsidised set-top boxes (STB) which are meant to enable migration from analog to digital television services.
The statement came in response to an ITWeb article which the minister claimed quoted her erroneously as saying that all contracted local manufacturers of government set-top boxes import decoders from abroad. The statement went on to say that “the Department of Communications has learnt that some local manufacturers contracted by state-owned-entity Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) to manufacture these decoders are procuring non-compliant devices abroad and importing them into country.
“This means that they are in fact contravening the local content quota prescription, which requires them to ensure that at least 30% of all decoder components are produced locally. This undermines government’s efforts to ensure that this project contributes towards boosting the country’s electronics manufacturing sector to stimulate job creation in the sector. Additionally, many of these imported decoders are found to be defective and not compliant with the local standards framework set by the SA Bureau of Standards. This has resulted in decoder recipients having to return them to government’s distribution agent – the SA Post Office.”
There are 27 manufacturing firms contracted by USAASA to produce decoders and antennas for government’s broadcasting digital migration project, at a cost of R4,5 billion. The minister also expressed concern about the cost per unit – government is currently paying R1700 per manufacturing of a single STB, including installation. She described these costs as unsustainable for government and called on public-private partnerships for help in implementing the broadcasting digital migration project.
The department is currently reviewing the implementation plan and the model around the broadcasting digital migration project; this process is set be concluded in the very near future.
For more information visit www.doc.gov.za
Further reading:
20 years of precision, progress and purpose – the Jemstech journey
Jemstech
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Twenty years ago, Jemstech began as a small, determined venture built on technical excellence and trust. Today, it stands among South Africa’s leading electronic manufacturing service providers.
Read more...
A new era in wire bond inspection
Techmet
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Viscom is developing a 3D wire bond inspection system that incorporates substantially improved sensors, a high image resolution, and fast image data processing.
Read more...
Energy harvesting using a battery-less IoT system
NuVision Electronics
Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
Energy Harvesting plays an essential role in the foundation of ambient IoT, a new generation of ultra-low power connected devices that operate by drawing energy from their environment instead of relying on traditional batteries.
Read more...
Questing for the quantum AI advantage
Editor's Choice AI & ML
Two quantum experts disclose high hopes and realities for this emerging space.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Progress meets reality
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice
In the first half of 2025, renewable energy, incorporating solar, wind, and to a lesser degree hydropower and bioenergy, has generated more electricity globally than coal did.
Read more...
From ER to effortless: The 15-year journey of Seven Labs Technology
Seven Labs Technology
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
What started as a business likened to an ‘ER’ for electronic components has today grown into a trusted partner delivering kitting services and full turnkey solutions – taking the effort out of electronics and helping customers truly ‘Move to Effortless.’
Read more...
The trends driving uptake of IoT Platform as a Service
Trinity IoT
Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
IoT platforms, delivered as a service, are the key that will enable enterprises to leverage a number of growing trends within the IT space, and access a range of benefits that will help them grow their businesses.
Read more...
Interlynx-SA: Engineering SA’s digital backbone
Interlynx-SA
Editor's Choice
At the heart of the industrial shift towards digitalisation lies the growing demand for telemetry, Industrial IoT (IIoT), advanced networking, and robust data solutions, and Interlynx-SA is meeting this demand.
Read more...
Converting high voltages without a transformer
Altron Arrow
Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
With appropriate power converter ICs, such as the LTC7897 from Analog Devices, many applications can be suitably powered without having to use complex and cost-intensive transformers.
Read more...
Grinn Global: From design house to SoM innovator
Editor's Choice
From its beginnings as a small electronic design house, Grinn Global has moved into the spotlight as a system-on-module innovator working alongside technology giants like MediaTek.
Read more...
printer friendly version