21 Apr 2020

The Japanese Embassy has granted aid amounting to approximately P17 million for distribution of set top boxes.

These will be aligned with deployment of digital terrestrial television (DTV) and analogue switch off in Botswana.

According to a press release, the agreement was signed by Ambassador Takeda Kozo and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Thapelo Matsheka.

In February 2013, Botswana announced the adoption of the Japanese standard for its DTV and first broadcasted by Botswana Television (BTV).

The release says it is notable that Botswana is the first country in Africa to adopt the Japanese standard for its DTV.

Since then, Botswana has been making efforts to shift from analogue broadcasting to DTV and Japan has been assisting the country's digital TV transition.

After analogue switch-off, there will be vacancy of frequency band so that people can use hi-speed internet using mobile phone in the future, the press release says.

Meanwhile, the release also states that in 2015, with support from several Japanese companies, DTV was broadcasted in the whole country.

Botswana has also been working on utilization of data broadcasting, which is a service associated with DTV.

Through data broadcasting services, the release says, people can watch real-time traffic news, weather forecast and information on searches for stray cattle and most importantly, obtain government issued information such as public safety, natural hazards and healthcare advice while watching TV.

Another remarkable feature of the Japanese standard DTV is the emergency warning broadcasting system (EWBS) function.

The release further explains that with EWBS, an emergency alert sound and announcement automatically come out of STB from its built-in speaker even when a TV itself is switched off.

To watch DTV, people need a STB, a small box-shaped receiver to be directly hooked to each TV. 

While the Botswana government moves on with analogue switch-off, there was a concern that vulnerable people may not be able to purchase STBs due to economic reasons.

As a result, it will be difficult for them to access aforementioned information through data broadcasting services that closely affects their daily lives.  

Through this grant aid, Japan cooperates with Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS), Ministry for Presidential Affairs Governance and Public Administration, to distribute STBs to the households who are in need of assistance, to ensure their access to the information through DTV that would complement their well-being. ends