The enthusiasm with which she superintended and managed NAFDAC will now be needed to run a project that is not only nationalistic in flavour but also very global in terms of application: DIGITISATION OF BROADCAST SERVICES IN NIGERIA.The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) which is responsible for the regulation of all broadcast services in Nigeria is under the purview (watch) of the Hon. Minister.
The NBC has a Director General who is very professional, adept and dynamic in the person of EngineerYomi Bolarinwa. Over recent years the vigor and drive of NBC under the Engineer Bolarinwa has been very robust. The NBC has overseen the recent increase in the number of TV and radio stations in the country and has effectively managed and regulated them within the confines of the law.
However the major task before the NBC in the coming years would be on how to comply with the directive from President Umar Musa Yar‘adua on the digitisation of all broadcast services in Nigeria. The President has approved December 2007 as the kick off date for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Nigeria, to culminate on 12th June, 2012. The deadline for full digitization of broadcast services in Nigeria therefore is 12th June, 2012.
The approval was in line with the deadline the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Resolution 1185 on Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting set for all countries in the world to fully digitalise all broadcast services by 17th June, 2015. The significance of digitisation cannot be overemphasized given the pace of technology advancement in broadcasting. The “innovation” of today is the “obsolete” of tomorrow.
Most so called “developed countries” have set their deadlines for digitisation within the ITU date, to wit:
Netherlands - completed analogue switch-off on 11 December 2006
Swede - completed 5 October 2007
Finland - completed in February 2008
In Progress
South Africa – on schedule to be completed in 2011
Germany - on track to achieve completion in 2008
UK - switchover in stages to be completed in December 2012
Italy - programme due to be completed in 2012.
To Start
France – switchover likely to start late 2008
USA – single switchover date on 17 February 2009 reviewed to 12 June 2009
Japan – single switchover date on 24 July 2011
Australia – set a target switchover timeframe of 2010-2012.
These dates were respectively set after extensive research and planning, taking into cognisant the enormity of the work involved in achieving full digitisation: principally in terms of provision of the necessary legal framework, finance, public enlightenment and involvement (awareness), training etc. For instance, the United States of America (USA) has had to postpone their date of 17th February 2009 for complete switchover to 12th June 2009 because the legislative framework was not ready. This is at enormous cost to companies, such as Qualcom, Motorola etc who won auctions for various spectrums, not to talk about the brand image of the country.
Nigeria cannot be left behind, because the consequences of failure to achieve the date will be disastrous and bleak for the future of development in Nigeria. We will be out of the international communication “loop”.
The necessary framework for digitisation has to be in place. Its refreshing to note that the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Transition to Digital Broadcasting is presently working very hard in order to come out with the necessary policy framework which will probable go through the whole process leading to an enactment of the law. Its terms of reference are quite encompassing, namely:
*recommending a policy on digital terrestrial broadcast transition using global practices
*recommending appropriate regulatory framework
? assessing impact of digitisation on the consumers and recommending possible government intervention
* determining the quantum of expected digital dividend
*assessing environmental impact of digitisation, and recommending steps to be taken
*advising government on any action relevant to be successful transition in Nigeria
In summation: deliberate on the implications of digitisation and provide government with a policy framework.
regulators and people. The success of the transition will depend to a great extent, on the co-operation of these parties and their willingness and readiness to play, effectively their expected roles”.
Digitisation is a very important national project which will be a veritable avenue for the “Re-branding” of Nigeria.
Digitisation is a very important national project which will be a veritable avenue for the “Re-branding” of Nigeria.
Digitisation is a very important national project which will be a veritable avenue for the “Re-branding” of Nigeria.
Peter B. Ogbobine
Solicitor writes from Lagos.
Dorathy
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