Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Regulations Finalised

Posted 09 April 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Communications & Digital Technologies

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: In terms of the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has finalised the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting regulations.

The new regulations, which were released for public comment in July 2025, provide an updated framework for the digital migration process. Once in force, these regulations will repeal the 2012 secondary legislation on digital migration as well as the 2014 regulations that were intended to promote diversity and competition in the digital terrestrial television space. This regulatory update is directly linked to the anticipated official pronouncement ending dual illumination—the process where analogue and digital signals are transmitted concurrently.

ICASA has gazetted the regulations alongside a reasons document that explains the Authority’s position on various issues raised during the public consultation phase. The finalisation of these regulations is intended to ensure a structured transition to digital-only broadcasting and provide regulatory certainty for the sector.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Monitor the official pronouncement on the end of dual illumination to understand the timeline for final spectrum clearing and its impact on personal television reception equipment.
  • For your business: Update internal compliance frameworks to reflect the repeal of the 2012 and 2014 DTT regulations and ensure that any operational plans for digital broadcasting align with the new standards.
  • For your clients: Advise broadcasting clients on the implications of the new regulations for their existing licenses and the specific technical requirements for digital-only broadcasting once dual illumination ceases.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/digital-migration-terrestrial-tv-broadcasting-regulations-finalised

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.