Broadcasting Technology

Broadcasting Technology Overview

Signal distribution for terrestrial sound broadcasting o­n short-wave, medium wave and VHF/FM. Test transmissions have started o­n DAB (digital audio broadcasting).

Signal distribution for terrestrial television broadcasting in analogue PAL I format in VHF, UHF and MMDS (2,5GHz) frequency bands. Test transmissions were introduced in 1999 in digital MPEG 2/DVB-T (digital video broadcasting-terrestrial) format.

Satellite distribution for linking both sound and television terrestrial transmission networks, and backhauling programme material or channels to assembly points.

Satellite transmission for direct-to-home (DTH) or business reception in digital MPEG 2/DVB-S formats, with or without conditional access. Analogue PAL transmission is being phased out.

South Africa’s Broadcasting Backbone

As South Africa's Common Carrier, Sentech literally is the backbone of the Southern African broadcasting complex. We own and operate a large number of terrestrial broadcasting transmission sites, which accommodating the short-wave, medium wave, FM, television and MMDS transmitters that serve most broadcasters in South Africa, including public, private and community services and international broadcasters providing services to Africa.

Our infrastructure is geared to provide economical solutions and optimum receiving conditions.

Configurations include:

• High sites with access roads
• Power supply lines
• High steel masts
• Accommodation with heating, ventilation and air conditioning
• Standby power generation
• Telemetry and control systems
• Common transmitting antennas
• Receiving facilities for input signals
• Nation-wide service centres, manned by staff with specialist competencies
• Full redundancy

Supporting these, we are also provide:

• High-tech measuring instrumentation
• Extensive stockholding of spare parts and equipment modules
• A communication system and a network management information database

Sentech also owns and operates digital satellite transmission systems making use of Intelsat, PanAmSat and other capacity to provide linking for terrestrial transmitter networks and direct satellite broadcasting services. Satellite transmission for direct-to-user reception is provided for public broadcasting services and provides communications channels used by business and public enterprises for corporate communications, information distribution, datacasting and distance education/training.