Sentech is back in the spotlight, and this time the conversation is less about infrastructure and more about power. South Africa’s state owned signal distributor is being investigated over concerns that its firm grip on the country’s broadcast signal market may be crossing into monopolistic territory. For an industry that relies almost entirely on Sentech to get television and radio signals across the country, the scrutiny feels long overdue.
At the centre of the issue is choice, or the lack of it. Sentech controls the backbone that carries terrestrial TV and radio signals nationwide, and for most broadcasters, there simply isn’t a practical alternative. Building parallel infrastructure is expensive and complex, which means competitors rarely even try. That reality has allowed Sentech to set the terms, and regulators are now questioning whether those terms have been fair, transparent or reflective of real competition.
Broadcasters have not been shy about their frustrations. High signal distribution costs have become a recurring pain point, quietly squeezing budgets and limiting how much media houses can invest in content and innovation. For public broadcasters in particular, the pressure is even heavier, because every increase in transmission costs ultimately affects public service delivery. What looks like a technical pricing issue quickly becomes a bigger story about sustainability and access.
Regulators are now pushing for a reset. The proposal on the table is simple in theory but powerful in impact. Sentech would be required to clearly spell out its pricing, service levels and technical conditions, making it easier for broadcasters to understand what they are paying for and why. The goal is to replace opaque negotiations with predictable rules and to rein in the risks that come with unchecked market power.
Beyond broadcasting, this investigation taps into a wider tech story playing out across Africa. Who controls critical digital infrastructure, and how should that power be managed? As governments lean more heavily on digital systems to deliver information and services, the Sentech case is a reminder that infrastructure dominance, even when state owned, still needs strong oversight. The outcome will matter not just to broadcasters, but to anyone watching how Africa balances scale, fairness and innovation in its digital future.
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