Trilock Dwarka, ChairmanICT Authority - MauritiusNovember 2011

Trilock Dwarka, ChairmanICT Authority - MauritiusNovember 2011

Rodrigues, foremost eastern part of Africa switched over to digital on 31 December 2011

DTTWild Estimates

70% to 80% of 360,000 Households

SURVEY ON DTT

November 2012

• To be carried out by Mauritius Post on behalf of ICT Authority

DTTB Fact Sheet for Mauritius

• No. of households: 360,000• Standard: DVB-T compliant to EN300 744

(interoperability amongst manufacturers)• No. of DTTB (STB) receivers: 250,000• Cost of STB: USD 75 (2006) fell to USD 20• Likely switch-over date: 2013

EARLY START –DTT STUDY

2000 ---------- Commissioned TDF of France - Survey 2 digital multiplexes2002 ---------- Pilot test successfully carried

1998 – 1999 --- Visit to DTT experimental platform in Rennes (France)

DTT rollout

1998 National Digital Broadcasting Committee set up by Government Frequency planning done by TDF - Coordination with Reunion island

1999 Government of Mauritius chooses DVB-T for future digitalterrestrial television services

2001 TDF / MCML / MBC carried out a pilot test transmission2005 Official Launch of DTTB in Mauritius with 70% coverage2006 18 gap-fillers increased coverage to 100%12/2007 ~ 100,000 DTT set-top boxes sold (30% penetration)2008 2nd DTT Multiplex – 6 TV programmes 2010 Launch of 3rd DTT Multiplex – 5 programmes

POLICY FRAMEWORKPOLICY FRAMEWORK

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA)

1.Established in 2000 as per IBA Act 2000.To provide for the setting up of an IndependentBroadcasting Authority to regulate sound andtelevision broadcasting in Mauritius.

2.Mauritius Multi Carrier Limited (MCML)To act as sole signal distributor for radio & TV signalsin Mauritius.

3.The ICT Authority to allocate frequencies to IBA

DTT issues in MauritiusDTT issues in Mauritius

• Coverage of the island• Quality of rooftop aerial Wideband aerial not compatible for DTT reception.• Quality of rooftop aerial installation and aerial misdirection• Impulsive noise and blocking of pictures• Retail staff lack of knowledge on STB set up

They did not hold much in making sales increase.Many daily telephone calls received from viewers to explainhow to set up STB.

• Low cost STBs give asynchronous video audio problems

DTT issues in MauritiusDTT issues in Mauritius

Solutions

•Extensive aerial installer training programs / workshops.•MBC / MCML proposed video clips to inform viewers ofthe type of aerial and cables to buy and tips on goodinstallation practices.•Pamphlets / booklets distributed to retail staff, antennainstallers and viewers giving frequencies, channels andlocation of transmitting stations.•Detailed study of the true coverage by using a vehiclewith a 10m rotatable mast for field strength measurements.

• Diminish the Digital Divide within the population.

• Increase of TV choice with multiple TV channels.

• Emphasis on Diversity given the ethnic composition

of Mauritius.

• Reception of better sound and video quality.

• Better government services (personalised and user-

friendly).

• Increase transparency of government actions.

Social ImpactSocial Impact

CHALLENGES

Budget to co-exist both Analogue and Digital Television

Planning of Digital Dividend

Upskill of ourEngineers on Digital era

Planning for

The Analogue

Switch-off

Achieving same Coverage as Existing analogue

1. Legislation and Regulatory Issues

Multi Channel Licensing Framework

Technology Neutral Licensing framework

Revocation of allocated frequency at end of dual illumination

to realise digital dividend

Consumer participation

Policy consideration for vulnerable groups

Harmonisation of technical standards for Set-Top

Boxes / Decoders

Action Plan for Digital Broadcasting Migration

The Future

The PresentThe Present The FutureThe Future

AM RadioAM Radio

FM RadioFM Radio

Analogue TVAnalogue TV

Outside Outside BroadcastBroadcast

Satellite Satellite ReceptionReception

Mobile TVMobile TV

Digital RadioDigital Radio

Multimedia Multimedia ServicesServices

Interactive Interactive Digital TVDigital TV

Data Data CommunicationCommunication

Digital TVDigital TV

Broadband Broadband NetworkNetwork

Post DSO Issues

(1)Consumer education | Digital Literacy

(2)Upgrading to DVB-T2 - MPEG-4

(3)Maintenance and expansion of MUXs

(4)DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld)

(5)HD

(6)DAB

Trilock Dwarka, ChairmanICT Authority – Mauritius

chairman@icta.mu