DSO rolls out in Lagos State


By Content Nigeria reporter
May 1, 2021

News

The launch of free digital terrestrial television (DTT) as part of the digital switchover (DSO) of broadcasting in Nigeria recently took place in Lagos State.

Armstrong Idachaba

The DTT launch on Thursday this week marked the start of the second phase of the DSO rollout in Nigeria, which will provide 60 channel options to Nigeria’s television households. It will also provide better quality television viewing to more than five million TV households in the State.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) officially began DTT transmission on Thursday at an event in Lagos, several years after the DTT pilot in Nigeria. In addition, free set-top boxes were also launched.

The welcome address posted by NBC director general Armstrong Idachaba on Instagram reads: “After almost three years’ lull, I thank God that we have taken the bold task of commencing Phase 2 of the Digital Switchover with the switch on of Lagos today.

“The DTT free project by the Nigerian government is one that is home grown, unique in its philosophical underpinning, which has the development of our indigenous culture and tradition and the empowerment of the mass population of our country as a core value proposition. Our home manufactured Set Top Box is a melting point and convergence point of our collective heritage.

“To arrive to this point I must acknowledge the constant policy direction and support of this administration, especially that the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting only commenced earnestly in 2016 with the advent of this administration. Before then it was so much steam without motion. I therefore thank the President for his unwavering commitment to bring information and access to information to the mass of Nigerians.

“I want to most sincerely thank the honorable minister for his drive and energy to deliver this proposition for the good of Nigerians. I recall that it took his intervention and dogged commitment to drive the process before we attained the pilot roll out in Jos. For me, the greatest win of this Lagos launch is that broadcasters are owning the process. They are excited and see the success of the DSO as theirs.

“The digital switch-on we are activating here in Lagos today means that from today with just a set-top box, Lagosians can now enjoy over 30 digital television services, subscription free.”

He added that with the roll-out in Lagos, about five million Lagosians will have instant access to digital television services and also job opportunities for creatives, engineers, technicians and small-scale business activities.

Toyin Subair, chairman of Inview, also took to Instagram saying: “Free TV, the Nigerian Digital Switch Over platform launches in Lagos. 5.5 million TV households, for grabs.”