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International Broadcast Centre
The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) is the media nerve centre for the World Cup. It will provide coverage of the World Cup to a cumulative audience of more than 30-billion viewers. Government will use the construction of the IBC to enhance South Africa's migration to high definition television and new broadcasting technology.
FIFA to ratify Cabinet's approval of IBC location
Information and Communications Technologies
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are a critical factor for any World Cup. The Department of Communications has a programme to ensure deliver of the Government guarantee that telecommunications infrastructure will conform to FIFA's requirements. This includes the infrastructure for wire and wireless national and international telephone, data, audio and video exchanges.
Government will also fulfil its guarantee to help the Organising Committee to set up a fully equipped central media centre – or International Broadcast Centre, as well as subsidiary media centres in the host cities.
As importantly, the DoC will ensure that the event produces a lasting legacy for ICTs in South Africa. To do this, the Department has adopted the following as departure points in its 2010 programme:
- Acceleration of the implementation of primarily existing ICT improvement plans, including such DoC activities as legislative changes, as well as targeted re-investment in ICT infrastructure
- Maximised use of existing infrastructure
- Maximised engagement of appropriate private sector partners and innovative finance
- Integration, improvement and expansion of existing services
- Implementation of existing economic empowerment and sustainable development policies
- Attaining specific World Cup objectives with specific, best practice temporary measures and management practices that serve other special events in the future.
"Sentech is on schedule to meet Government’s commitment by providing about 80% Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) coverage by 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. Further, Sentech intends to launch at least one HDTV satellite channel, in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Sentech will also build a second teleport to provide additional capacity needed for the 2010 satellite uplink requirement. On the other hand, the SABC plans to have six more High Definition Units in place by end of 2009, in line with the technology plan for 2010.
Read the Minister of Communication's 2007 Budget Speech