South Africa, Namibia discuss digital spectrum interference

South African Communications Minister Faith Muthambi travels to Namibia on Wednesday to meet with her counterpart, Information, Communications and Technology Minister Tjekero Tweya, to discuss mitigation strategies regarding the potential cross-border frequency spectrum interference following the 17 June deadline to move from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting, her office has said.

The 17 June deadline was set by the UN International Telecommunications Union at the Regional Radio Communication Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2006.

According to her office, the minister’s visit will be an opportunity for the frequencies geographical coordinates and output transmitter powers of both states to be analysed to assess possible signal interference output.

Muthambi has in the past weeks consulted her counterparts in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique on the issue.

Accompanied by technical experts from SENTECH (Transmitter Network Management) and ICASA (a spectrum management unit), she is expected to visit Zimbabwe soon.

The minister will also be part of the SADC Communications, ICT and Postal Ministers meeting from the 25 to 26 June in Namibia’s Atlantic Ocean port city of Walvis Bay.

APA