Experts raise concern on deadline for Digital Switch Over
By Zion Rufus
Experts across sectors in Nigeria are of the opinion that the nationwide Digital Switch Over deadline by the National Broadcasting Commission may not altogether be achievable if the necessary measures are not put in place. NBC expects the transition to be completed by 2022.
The Digital Switch Over was initially introduced in 2006 when the Federal Government disclosed its plans to digitize the nation’s analogue television broadcast signal by June 2015, in line with a global deadline established by the International Telecommunications Union. Since then, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have worked to implement digital television broadcasting in Nigeria.
Unfortunately, the first two deadlines, June 2015 and July 2020 set for the nation-wide transition were faulted. Again, local players and industry experts have reasons to believe it might yet again be unrealistic.
Speaking on the feasibility of the DSO during an interview with MARKETING EDGE, Sociology expert and Professor at the University of Lagos, Professor F.A Badru stated that more importantly “Do we have unassailable data to plan and actualize the dream? How many Nigerians are literate enough to understand that? Have we carried the citizens along segment by segment, age by age, gender by gender, socioeconomic statuses, religious cleavages, among others; are we planning in the air? Is it therefore realistic or feasible?”
The Federal Government described the DSO which is accompanied by a FreeTv box and a new Amendment to the Broadcasting Code as a “priority project”; noting it will improve local content, create jobs, curb content monopolies and improve on-demand television to millions of Nigerian households.
According to PR and Communications expert, and CEO Modion Communications, Odion Aleobua, the initiative would be realized as planned if the project management team prioritizes execution excellence and ensures their device compatibility aligns with the existing television sets in ordinary Nigerian households.
The rollout will kickoff in Lagos state on 29th of April 2021, Kano state on 3rd June 2021 and Rivers state on 8th July, 2021, switch on of Yobe state on 15th July, 2021 and Gombe state on 12th August 2021. Following the rollout, the signal distributors are expected to within the same period complete the installation of additional transmitters and gap fillers to attain 70% to 80% coverage in the existing six locations in phase 1. The first Analogue Switch Off is slated to take place on May 28 in Abuja. The remaining phase 1 states of Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, Enugu, and Osun will follow in June, August, and September 2021.
Professional Marketing expert and public speaker, Dr. Tamuno Kiri opined: “A digital Switch Over, is a centralized digital signal bank controlled at a single wide area network. Firstly, I rather see the government’s want to create a DSO as a means of centrally controlling electronic media content. One is tempted to ask if the present government is not indirectly attempting to centrally control private radio/Tv programming content and foreign programme intrusions, by offering the DSO services free. Is it to lure the Nigerian public to a government induced, centrally controlled programme content, and dissuade the public from tilting towards private programming/foreign content intrusion?”
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