The planned full migration from analogue to digital broadcasting will fetch the Federal Government billions of naira, NewsSpecng has learnt.
The MInister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is expected on Thursday to announce the timetable for the digital roll out in the remaining 31 states of the country.
The digital transmission has been done in six states of the Federation including Abuja.
Speaking on the gains of digital broadcasting to the country, Chairman of Association of Set Top Box (STB) Manufacturers, Mr. Geoffrey Ohuanbunwa said the money that will accrue to the government can be used to fund the budget and address some other national needs.
Ohuanbunwa who spoke ahead of the planned timetable for roll out said, “As a country, we have lost time, employment opportunities, revenue because the whole essence of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) is to benefit first, the federal government which will harvest billions of naira from sale of spectrum to solve critical challenges in the country.
“The project is designed in such a way that broadcasters are to vacate the spectrum they are occupying on their analogue transmission which is to be harvested by the federal government. The harvested spectrum which is called Dividend 1 and 2 would be sold to generate a lot of money.
“Presently, NTA and most of the private TV stations are occupying some of the spectrum. The highest the private stations are paying to the government for the spectrum is not more than N500 million. If they move out of analogue, the government wll farm back these spectrum which cannot be less than 20.
“I recall that the last time one of the spectrum was leased out by NBC, they leased out for N35 billion. If the process of DSO is completed and the government sells just five of the spectrums which I know will not be less than N50 billion each now, that will help us to offset our budgeting deficit, help in growing the economy and in solving the challenges of insecurity as well as development of infrastructure job creation.”
The STB manufacturer who was very excited about the resumption of the programme said, the planned timetable for roll out in the remaining part of the country shows how the current administration is taking the DSO seriously.
He said, “As a Nigerian I feel proud that our country is moving forward again and it shows the determination of the government on DSO. Also as a critical stakeholder in the entire ecosystem, I am happy because our two companies engaging in this project have invested billions of Naira and dollar in the project over the last three years in terms of factories construction and STB manufacturing , keeping labour over the last two years It has been a concern to us and we could not have had a better news than this. We also want to commend the Minister for showing leadership, doggedness, commitment to the course.
