The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled for E.tv in its case against Communications Minister Faith Muthambi over the use of unencrypted set-top boxes in South Africa.
According to a report by ITWeb, the court ruled that the department’s digital migration policy was unlawful and was “accordingly set aside”.
The set-top boxes were to be used as part of South Africa’s migration from analogue to digital television, a move that would free up spectrum which could be used to improve broadband connectivity in the country.
The ruling follows the Pretoria High Court granting E.tv leave to appeal the government’s digital terrestrial television policy.
E.tv stated that the government-subsidised set-top boxes should support encryption.
South Africa has planned for its digital migration since 2008, but missed 2015’s International Telecommunication Union’s deadline for the move.
