Testing lab for Set-Top-Boxes

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has announced it will set up a laboratory to test Set-Top-Boxes before they go to market.

Speaking at the ICT Indaba in Cape Town, SABS chairperson, Bahle Sibisi, announced the lab would be running by October. Sibisi noted that the lab would enable SME’s to participate effectively in the manufacturing process.

Earlier this year, the SABS released draft manufacturing standards for public comment. The SABS has now released final standards as SA works towards migrating from analogue to digital broadcasting.

Sibisi noted that the published standards was chosen as it allows for a broad base of people to access services. SA has adopted the DVB-T2 standard and has set a September 2012 deadline to kick-off Digital Terrestrial Television services.