As part of the expansion of the MTN Group in Nigeria, the
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has finally granted operating license to
the telecom giant, reports ITRealms.
Disclosing this Wednesday, the Director-General of NBC, Mr.
EmekaMba while presenting the Commission’s journey so far on digital
switchover, said that they have successfully licensed MTN Nigeria Limited to
provide digital pay Tv broadcasting services.
“I'm pleased to
inform you that we have successfully licensed MTN Nigeria Ltd to use a part of
the 700 MHz to provide digital pay TV broadcasting services,” he said.
Mba revealed that NBC used the licensing to raise the sum of
N34 billion, which was very helpful in meeting its budget need upto about 50
per cent.
He used the opportunity urge other African countries
struggle with funding for digital migration to take advantage of licensing.
“I am pleased to inform you, also, that through this
singular move, Nigeria has once again pointed the way for other African
countries struggling with the effort of finding financing for their own digital
switchover programmes,” he said.
NBC chief executive officer also explained that the use of
the band, 470 – 862MHz solely for UHF Television Broadcasting Service on a
primary basis in Nigeria predates both the National Broadcasting Commission
(NBC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“As a matter of fact, most Administrations in ITU Region 1
use the entire 470 – 862 MHz for UHF Television Broadcasting prior to ITU
WRC-2007 conference,” he said.
Pointing out that in in 2006, ITU planned the entire 470 –
862MHz frequency band for Digital UHF Television Broadcasting for ITU Region 1
to which the Nigerian administration belongs.
Stressing that the planning of 470 – 862MHz frequency band
for Digital UHF Television is referred to in the ITU circle as GE-06 Plan and
after the signing of the agreements resulting from this plan it is now referred
to as the GE-06 Agreement.
He was optimistic that this should clear any doubt as to
where these frequencies belong until after the completion of the digital switch
over.
On Set Top Boxes, he said, off-shore mass production and
delivery of initial subvented boxes for Jos pilot project was envisaged to be
completed by end of October, while the local manufacture of the set top boxes
is expected to begin in April 2016.
NBC, he said, would conclude some critical activities with
regard to signal transmission infrastructure by December 31, 2015.
These segment, Mba noted, include the publishing of the Request
for Proposal (RFP), thereby concluding the National Signal Mapping, awarding
the transmission Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), designating the
ITS for Jos and beginning live digital transmission; and we plan to be done
with these by the end of December, 2015.
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