The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Friday insisted that 2028 remained the deadline for switch over from analogue to digital broadcasting transmission nationwide.
This was made known in Ibadan by the NBC deputy director of public affairs, Mrs Clementine Wamba, at the South West Digital Switch Over (DSO) community engagement and training of installers to facilitate the process in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
Mrs Wamba emphasised that broadcasters would be shut out of analogue broadcasting transmission by 2028, hence the need for the training of installers that are professionals to assist in the process.
“We are actually here to train installers specifically to be part of the Digital Switch Over process”, she said.
Mrs Wamba added, “We are doing it in conjunction with Nigeria Communication Statelite Limited, (NigComSat). It is a joint outreach that we are doing here today.
“We are doing it to ensure that they can properly track the NigComsat signal. We found out that installers are very critical to the success of the DSO project because we recently launched the DTH project. We are going DTT. We are going DTH. We are doing mobile App”.
She stressed, “The Nigerians that are receiving signals through analogue, watching television through analogue would no longer have access to that. Get decoder that can receive signal after switching over from analogue”
According to Mrs Wamba, “The installation of Free TV is to enable Nigerians to have access to many channels without subscription”, adding, ” For effective takes off of the project nationwide, she said the NBC has embarked on the training of the Installers of Decoders and Dishes nationwide.
“We found out that for the DTH which is the one that can easily get to Nigeria homes without subscription right now after the launching. if they have their free to air Free decoder and the dish they can point to NigComSat to get signal”.
She pointed out that “People cannot do this on their own because there are some technicalities involved, they need installers. For people to have access to Free TV platform, they need installers to help them get that access. That is why installers have become critical to the project”.
The installers at the training lauded the gesture of the federal government through the National Broadcasting in providing the Free to Air TV and the training opportunities provided on its installation.
One of the trainees and a satellite installer, Raji Taoheed Olanrewaju, described the training as an eye opener which will create employment for the teeming youths in the country.
Mr Olanrewaju stressed that the Free TV will be of greater assistance to the low income earners in the country as they will have access to many channels without subscription.
He lauded the Federal government through the NBC for the initiative which is of benefits to the teeming Nigerians.
Another trainee, Mr Gbenga Oluduro, said the training has provided him the opportunities to learn more about the technicalities involved in the installation of digital decoders and dishes.