The ISDB-T begins to take positions against the DVB in Africa

Botswana distances itself from South Africa and the recommendations of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and opts for the Japanese-Brazilian standard over the European one.

Botswana has distanced itself from South Africa by opting for the Japanese-Brazilian ISDB-T standard over the European DVB-T. In this way, the ISDB-T makes the leap from Latin America to the African continent.

The decision of Botswana, a country rich in minerals and precious stones but with a large part of its area covered by the Calahari Desert, is the result of more than two years of work by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil and the Japanese government.

In 2011, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), led by South Africa, decided to support the European DVB standard. But the European financial crisis has meant that the investment proposed by the Europeans has not materialized, so Japan and Brazil have taken the opportunity to resume their intention to forcefully enter Africa with their standard.

On March 15, a group of SADC digital television experts will meet to discuss the development of digital television. It is to be expected that countries like Namibia, Zambia or Congo will follow in Botswana's footsteps and finally opt for ISDB-T over DVB-T.