*Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, assures the Commission will work 鈥榲ery closely鈥� with the National Broadcasting Commission on the Digital Switch-Over, and ensure that the communication sector is ready to offer seamless DSO dividends to consumers with seamless access to superior Broadband services in the digital economy

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

As a strategic effort at ensuring the success of the 鈥榬ecurring鈥� infrastructure project, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to attain seamless Digital Switch-Over (DSO) dividends for Nigerian consumers.

绿帽献妻 reports the NBC and NCC, as government regulatory Commissions, disclosed this development at a recent joint press conference held in Abuja, FCT.

Speaking at the media briefing, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, Director-General of NBC, said the collaboration indicated a strategic, unified effort at making the DSO project a success in the country鈥檚 digital ecosystem.

A digital broadcasting studio

Ebuebu also noted that in order to ensure smooth process, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved N10 billion grant to drive technological advancement, economic growth, and cultural enrichment through the DSO project in Nigeria.

Nigerians deserve access to superior Broadband services, says Ebuebu

The Director-General of NBC stated: 鈥淭his intervention is a testament to the visionary leadership of the President.

鈥淚t is a commitment to achieving a future where every Nigerian, regardless of their location, has access to superior Broadband services, and is included in the digital economy.鈥�

He equally said: 鈥淭he funds allotted to this project will be meticulously expended to ensure that each component of the DSO ecosystem contributes significantly to the realisation of impactful digital dividends for our country.

鈥淭o accelerate this process, the Commission is in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).鈥�

Ebuebu further asserted that the DSO project is a catalyst for Nigeria鈥檚 media and socio-economic transformation, which he noted would stimulate significant job creation, drive economic growth, and expand the industry.

鈥淎s we stand at this pivotal moment in Nigeria鈥檚 broadcasting evolution, it is clear that the Digital Switchover (DSO) represents more than just a technological shift鈥攊t is a transformative journey for our media industry and our nation as a whole. Our commitment to this project reflects our dedication to a more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally competitive media landscape,鈥� stated he.

According to him, the NBC and NCC would activate awareness campaigns to ensure every digital Nigerian consumer comes to the knowledge of the DSOs enabling regulations to accelerate growth in the sector.

In regard to the rationale for a partnership on successful implementation of the DSO project, Ebubebu said: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we are both collaborating to do here. It鈥檚 a converged world right now.

鈥淲e encourage people to adopt new systems, new digital platform, because the ecosystem is huge. We are going with an approach that covers the entire nation all at once, at far less a cost.鈥�

The Director-General added: 鈥淭here was also the fact that there was no nationwide publicity and promotion of the DSO.

鈥淏ut we are going to be massively in everybody鈥檚 face, telling them about the dividends of the DSO, what it brings to bear.鈥�

According to NBC, content production studios will be established across the six geopolitical zones in partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), as well as FreeTV App.

This will develop a user-friendly mobile application that allows viewers to watch FreeTV on handheld devices and access video-on-demand services in the country.

Maida: NCC supports DSO project, to ready communication sector for increased data consumption, enhanced services

In his remarks at the briefing, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC of the Nigerian Communications Commission, affirmed that the Commission is the communication regulator, and there is a need for it to be part of the discussion with the NBC.

Maida stated: 鈥淚f we go and create all of this amazing content, and we don鈥檛 take into account the fact that the mode of consumption has changed, and the fact that majority of this content is going to be consumed on demand, it鈥檚 going to require some level of interaction in real time, which traditional broadcast does not allow.

鈥淭hen, I think we鈥檙e not going to be doing justice to the DSO project in a different way.鈥�

The EVC/CEO of NCC assured 鈥渨e are going to be working very closely together, obviously led by the NBC, we need to provide support and ensure that the communication sector is ready.

鈥淚f we do this right, especially if we get the right content, it is going to lead to a huge explosion in the consumption of data.鈥�

Maida also noted: 鈥淪o, the kind of things that the NCC needs is to provide support and to ensure that data is moving within the country.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 want data to go out and come back in. So, we have a role there to play in the NCC.

鈥淲e also have a role there to play in ensuring that the quality of connections, the quality of the signal that people are getting into these internal connected devices is at the right level to support people enjoy this content.鈥�

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