Go Digital South Africa is a process of taking South Africans to an era of Digital Television that also brings more choice of television channels to ordinary people who view free-to- air television as provided by SABC, e-tv and M-Net. Currently, these services are broadcast in an analogue format. The country is therefore moving these services, including regional television services, from analogue to digital broadcasting. High definition, digital television broadcasting is no longer a privilege of those who are well-off. In 2005 the International Telecommunications Union announced that countries in Africa and other regions must move their television broadcasting to a digital platform. Since then, SENTECH in conjunction with the Department of Communications has been working hard to ensure that all the necessary work is done to enable a smooth transformation of our broadcasting.
Today we have started to educate and tell South Africans about this journey of taking our television broadcasting into a new era of digital broadcasting that will see them receive television of exceptional picture and sound clarity. This process is called GO DIGITAL SOUTH AFRICA, and we urge all South Africans to equip themselves with information on how this process is going to affect them. Today, using all the newspapers and other mediums, we have begun to tell and educate South African about the move to digital television.
See the Digital Terrestrial Television everything you need to know document here.
1. Set Top Box Qualification Criteria?
- SA Citizenship and
- SASSA Grant Recipient or no-income or maximum total household income below R3 500
2. Where do I register for my set top box?
At your nearest SA Post Office and field events/registration campaign centres.
3. What do I bring for registration?
- ID
- Proof of residence
- Proof of income/affidavit confirming income
4. Options for non-qualifying households
- Digital Television Set (with integrated digital DVB-T2 receiving capability, check with your retailer to confirm)
- OVHD
- DSTV
- Online DTT decoder (bearing the DVB-T2 digital reception capability, check with your retailer)
5. Which Provinces are Set Top Boxes currently available?
In time, DTT and DTH decoders will be widely available in major stores. For now, only government-procured subsidized decoders are currently available and being rolled out in:
- Free State
- Northern Cape
- North West
- Limpopo
6. Which Provinces accept Vouchers for STB’s?
The voucher system is currently being finalized. It will be rolled out in the next phase in:
- Mpumalanga
- Eastern Cape
- Kwa-Zulu Natal
- Western Cape
- Gauteng
7. Is there a hotline number I can call?
Call 0860 736 832
OR
WhatsApp 060 062 5458
8. My Set Top Box is faulty, where do I go for technical support?
First contact the Call Centre for assistance on WhatsApp 0721968368.
If there is a definite fault on the decoder, please return it to your local Post Office for exchange.
9. Warranty period on STB?
2 years
10. Where to buy a remote or STB after warranty period expired?
Post Office will soon carry spare remotes and power adapters.
11. Toll Free Number for people who will not be able to afford airtime or “Call me back service”?
Call 0860 736 832
OR
WhatsApp 060 062 5458
12. How much is a set top box and where can I buy one?
OVHD, DSTV and StarSat satellite STBs are available in the stores from R499 including or without installation, and with a monthly subscription in the case of DSTV and StarSat – and no subscription
for OVHD.
DTT STBs for terrestrial reception are expected to be in the stores after September 2021. Some DTT STB models can be purchased online for under R450 excluding installation.
13. When will the signal be switched off in Free State?
Start: 08/01/2018
Finish (revised): 31/05/2021
14. When will the signal be switched off in Northern Cape?
Start: 08/01/2018
Finish (revised): 30/06/2021
15. When will the signal be switched off in North West?
Start: 05/04/2021
Finish (revised): 31/07/2021
16. When will the signal be switched off in Limpopo?
Start: 06/12/2021
Finish (revised): 20/12/2021
17. When will the signal be switched off in Mpumalanga?
Start: 03/05/2021
Finish (revised): 31/08/2021
18. When will the signal be switched off in Eastern Cape?
Start: 31/05/2021
Finish (revised): 30/09/2021
19. When will the signal be switched off in KwaZulu Natal?
Start: 26/07/2021
Finish (revised): 29/10/2021
20. When will the signal be switched off in Western Cape?
Start: 20/09/2021
Finish (revised): 30/11/2021
21. When will the signal be switched off in Gauteng?
Start: 20/12/2021
Finish (revised): 24/01/2022
22. What will happen if I do nothing when the signal is switched off?
You will no longer receive TV – permanently. However, your TV will still work but will need to be connected to a decoder to receive TV in clear quality digital
23. I did not get my set top box in time, now I have no signal – what do I do now?
Contact your local Post Office to arrange for your free installation
24. I have registered for DTT but I have not received any feedback yet; what should I do?
The subsidized installations are sequenced according to the provincial switch off appearing in the ASO schedule. For provinces FS, NC and NW - this is the 1st phase currently in execution through the subsidized installations.
For the rest LP, MP, EC, KZN and GP, these will be later from September 2021 through a retail voucher given to the applicant to redeem from participating retailers.
25. My antenna fell of the wall after strong winds, what should I do?
These are a set of old bad legacy installations that are being addressed by Sentech after their new appointment as the installation management company. User encouraged to leave details at Post Office or if possible, via the Sentech WhatsApp line. The information will be relayed to Sentech installation management team for redress.
26. My STB displays “invalid service” or “not a South African network” error message; what should I do?
For the “not a South African network”, please remove power cable, wait 10 seconds and reconnect. The decoder will initiate a new scan and update its connection with the network. If the message re-
appears, please alert the Call Centre about your location so that the Sentech Network Section can rectify the matter at the transmitter end.
For the “invalid service”, this occurs when a user selects an encrypted channel broadcast from Mnet and only receivable via Mnet GoTV DTT decoders. The Mnet GoTV decoders can also receive all other DTT channels from the free to air bouquet, however these decoders attract a monthly subscription fee. The viewer must be alerted about this important fact if they want to access the encrypted Mnet channels.
27. My remote control is not working even after changing the batteries; what should I do?
We have notified USAASA to contact the original manufacturers to supply spare sets of remotes and power supplies for sale at Post Offices. No new information is available yet but we will follow up.
28. My STB does not function anymore; how can I get a new one?
Get to the Post Office branch to check if you qualify for a warranty exchange if there is a hardware fault with the decoder.
It may also be possible that the consumer has been installed with a DTT decoder in an area that does not have reliable terrestrial coverage – or, as it is often the case, no DTT coverage at all. In this case, the consumer must have their DTT decoder swapped out for a DTH satellite version, requiring a new installation in the process. This is another category of the old bad legacy installations.
29. My STB has 2 green LED lights but doesn't display any pictures; what should I do?
Sometimes the decoder has landed on a channel that does not have any content playing. Ask the user to flick between different channels and if there is no success, approach the Post Office to
report/exchange the decoder.
30. The STB registered under my mother's name is faulty; can we get a new one even if my
mother is deceased?
Yes. Provided it is still within the two-year warranty period. An affidavit confirming relationship with the deceased will be required by the Post Office – this is to ensure against fraudulent exchanges.
31. My mother applied for DTT and passed away afterwards; will we still receive the STB?
No. Decoders are only supplied to living, qualifying South Africans. The prospective applicant will need to lodge in a new application in their name.
32. My STB doesn't have signal; what should I do?
- Could be a bad decoder
- Could be a bad installation.
- Could be that the aerial/dish cable is disconnected at the back of the decoder
- Could be that the signal cable from the decoder to the TV is disconnected
- Could be that the incorrect input is selected on the TV, User to ensure HDMI to HDMI; AV1 to AV1 on the back of the decoder and TV, matches with selection on the remote.
32. My STB keeps on loading; what should I do?
- Power cycle (remove power cable and reconnect after 10 seconds)
- Could be a bad decoder
- Could be that the aerial/satellite cable is not connected.
33. I wanted to check if my DTT registration went through because I haven't received
any feedback for past 6 months.
The subsidized installations are sequenced according to the provincial switch off appearing in the ASO schedule. For provinces FS, NC and NW – this is the 1st phase currently in execution through
the subsidized installations.
For the rest LP, MP, EC, KZN and GP, these will be later from September 2021 through a retail voucher given to the applicant to redeem from participating retailers.
34. My STB doesn't switch on; what can I do?
- Check if power is connected at the back of the decoder.
- Check if the remote batteries are ok but swopping with known good ones
- If no results from above, could be a bad remote or bad decoder
- Get to the Post Office branch to check if you qualify for a warranty exchange if there is a hardware fault with the decoder.
35. My STB was struck by lightning, and it’s not switch on and off; what can I do?
Warranty exchange if within the two-year warranty. Go the Post Office for exchange.
36. My BUA Africa decoder doesn’t pick all the channels; can you please assist me to reset it?
Remove power cable, allow for 10 seconds and reconnect.
If no check, check and ensure proper connections at the back of the decoder.
37. I wanted to know if it would be possible to access some channels that are not appearing on my STB, such as Super Sports?
No.
SuperSport channels are paid for subscription channels only accessible via Mnet GoTV DTT decoders. Or alternatively via paid for DSTV satellite decoders.
38. My STB shows error message "smartcard is inserted incorrectly". What should I do?
Follow the arrow in the smart card and insert according to the displayed direction. If still unsuccessful, report the smart card number for the Call Centre to verify if the card is working or not. Exchange procedure to be followed to replace the card.
To view whether your area is covered by Digital Terrestrial Television or Direct-to-Home platform please click on the link below and follow the instructions: http://cispub.sentech.co.za
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