CTO tasks Nigeria on new date for digital switchover

FROM the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) has come an advice that the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should look at the practicality of meeting the new ECOWAS deadline on digital switch over by June 2017.

The Secretary-General of CTO, Shola Taylor, noted that about N100 billion could be generated from spectrum, which would be available from the digital dividend. He advised the NBC to auction the spectrum and use part of the proceeds to fund the digital transition.

Having missed the June 2015 deadline set out by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) chose June 2017 as the new deadline for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in the sub-region.

Taylor, who spoke at the first annual lecture of the NBC yesterday in Abuja, noted that some years ago, it was estimated that the transition programme would cost about N50 billion, adding that in order to bridge the funding gap, the spectrum should be auctioned so that part of the proceeds can be used to fund the digital transition.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to show leadership and ensure that it meets the new deadline.