State of Broadcasting and Digital Migration in the Region https://zimbabwe.misa.org Digital Broadcasting Migration Components in Zimbabwe2 a. Content production infrastructure : i. TV studios- the plan is to have 6 studios at Pockets Hill, Mbare, Montrose, Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare. ii. Content gathering equipment (OB vans, DSNGs, flyaway kits) b. Signal processing equipment: i. ii) c. National high definition TV head end (multiplexer) is at Pockets Hill Satellite uplink facility for signal distribution and gap filling on DVB –S2, Ku band platform. The satellite uplink has dual purpose, firstly it is the primary distribution channel of all TV and radio services to the 48 transmitter sites and a direct to home DTH link on DVB-S2 platform to all viewers who might not get reception from the 48 transmitter sites and any other additional sites that might be added in future. Digital terrestrial transmission network: There are 48 transmitter sites dotted throughout the country. There are 24 backbone sites and 24 gap fillers. Zimbabwe like most SADC countries adopted the DVB-T2 transmission standard, the standard used in Europe. d. Digital Terrestrial Transmission reception. Set top boxes or DTT decoders are required to receive the digital signal. Many countries which successfully implemented the DBM put up policies to make the set top boxes affordable and easily available with a lot of consumer protection measures. It is a zero sum game to transmit the signal when consumers do not have receive gadgets. The project coordinators in Zimbabwe, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) requested for 400 thousand set top boxes way back in 2015 and no funds have been availed this far. 2progress report SADC Post DTT workshop 2020 4