The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has approved the applications of five broadcasters to amend their analogue broadcasting spectrum licences.

E.tv, the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, Soweto TV, 1KZN and Trinity Broadcasting Network are now able to move their transmissions into the 470 MHz to 694 MHz radio frequency band.

This followed the first analogue switch-off of the 700 MHz and 800 MHz frequency bands at Sentech’s Stellenbosch transmitter site on July 31, 2023, which opens the bands for mobile services to leverage the full range of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum auctioned in March 2022.

The five applications were lodged in terms of Section 31(4) of the Electronic Communications Act, No 36 of 2005, read with the procedures set out in Regulation 9 of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations of 2015.

The applications followed the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies’ (DCDT’s) adoption of a two-phase approach to finally completing the switch-off of analogue television services.

July 31, 2023, had been set as the date for switching off all analogue television broadcasting services above 694 MHz, while at the same time accommodating the remaining analogue TV channels below 694 MHz on a temporary basis, in the radio frequency band 470 MHz to 694 MHz, which is allocated to broadcasting services on a primary basis.

The five applicants applied to have their radio frequency spectrum licences amended in order to continue providing commercial free-to-air analogue television broadcasting services, pending the full and final analogue switch-off.

“Approval by the authority was granted before July 31, 2023, in order to ensure that there will be no disruption to the services provided by the broadcasting licensees and enjoyed by the television-viewing public,” said Icasa acting chairperson Yolisa Kedama in a statement on Wednesday.

“Icasa approved the applications to ensure that the process of switching off analogue transmissions is done in a coordinated and responsible manner that does not leave citizens without access to free-to-air television and does not prejudice business.”

The applicants’ amendments were compiled through extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including the DCDT, the Broadcasting Digital Migration Steering and Technical Committees and Sentech, as well as the Icasa-led Joint Spectrum Advisory Group.

“The authority further advises that, from August 1, 2023, any cases of intentional or harmful interference, experienced by IMT Spectrum Licence holders and stakeholders in the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands, should be reported without delay, through the responsible structures.

“This marks the beginning of the end of the dual-illumination period, with a seamless transition for the last analogue television services to below 694 MHz ahead of the final analogue switch-off in December 2024,” Kedama concluded.