Lagos targets October as Nigeria plans to complete DSO by 2022

• 13 more states to switch-on
• State begins 3,000km fiber dock infrastructure for high Internet capacity

By October, all broadcasting transmissions in Lagos are expected to have gone digital to ensure full activation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme in the state.

While Lagos is targeting the next six months to complete the process, the Federal Government, which has adopted phase roll-out of DSO, hopes to cover the entire country by December 7, 2022.

With no monthly subscription, but a yearly subscription of N1,500, Lagosians and indeed Nigerians, are expected to get the decoder (Set Top Box) at designated places in the state and other parts of the country.

The Acting Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Armstrong Idachaba, who gave the welcome address, stated that six months from today, analogue broadcasting would be completely switched-off in Lagos.

ALSO, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the launch marked the beginning of the second phase of the DSO roll-out, which came a day before the fifth anniversary of the launch of the pilot programme of the DSO in Jos, Plateau State, on April 30, 2016.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the government was committed to the project for many reasons, including job creation and content development; bring immense benefits to the residents and empower many of the youths, especially those in the entertainment and tourism industry.

IN another development, as part of efforts to make Lagos a hub for business in Africa, the state government has flagged off a 3,000 kilometres fiber dock infrastructure to transport high Internet capacity through underwater cables into homes and industries.

The state’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, who disclosed this during the Equipment Manufacturing West Africa (EMWA) exhibition and conference with the theme, “Industrialisation and Innovation Revitalising the Industrial Sector to Unlock Nigeria’s Potential,” said that the government would conclude a 15 jetty project this year among other transport projects to ease movement.