Altech UEC has thrown its weight behind Namec’s (National Association of Manufacturers of Electronic Components) campaign urging government to prioritise local manufacturing when it commits its budget for the set-top boxes needed for South Africa’s imminent migration from analog to digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting.
Altech UEC was a founding corporate member of Namec and according to Danie du Toit, managing director of Altech Multimedia under which Altech UEC falls, larger manufacturers such as itself need to work together with government and related stakeholders to ensure a smooth digital migration in order to benefit all South Africans and their communities.
“The imminent roll-out of the South African digital migration programme paves the way for the revival of the local electronic manufacturing industry which has suffered immensely due to delays in the past,” said Du Toit. “We fully support Namec’s call for more involvement by local electronic manufacturers in the digital migration programme.”
Adil Nchabeleng, secretary general of Namec, pointed out that the finalisation of the digital migration process to support broadband rollout is the perfect opportunity to galvanise the local manufacturing industry, which in turn has the potential to propel the economy to higher levels of growth, open new opportunities for new industries and modernise the delivery of social and economic services.
Altech Multimedia is perfectly positioned to benefit from DTT migration since it has the capacity to make some 750 000 set-top boxes a month at its Mount Edgecombe facility. Du Toit believes the company’s international experience in delivering set-top boxes into the Australian market makes it an ideal partner for local electronic manufacturers.
“We have a strong relationship with local manufacturers and we are ready, willing and able to work with Namec members to ensure that the digital migration programme is beneficial to emerging manufacturers,” Du Toit stated. “The electronic manufacturing business is highly capital intensive and we will continue to work with emerging manufacturers to assist in skills transfer, assist with capacity requirements and provide kits for assembly in order to support them to develop and grow their capabilities and take part in the digital migration value chain.”
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