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Lagos Digital switch: FG says Lagos has six months to switchover
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Federal Government has launched Digital Switch-Over (DSO), a switch from analogue television to digital television, in Lagos State.
The event, which held on Thursday, at Ikeja, Lagos, marked the beginning of the second phase of the rollout of DSO across the federation.
The first phase of DSO rollout held in Jos, Abuja, Ilorin, Kaduna, Enugu, and Osogbo between April 2016 and February 2018.
DSO will see the country move from analogue to digital broadcasting, which has the capacity to facilitate video-on-demand, audience measurement and a better viewing experience.
The Acting Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, Professor Armstrong Idacha, said that the Analogue Switchover will be switched off in Lagos six months from now in order to allow the Digital Switchover to take effect.
According to him, six months from April 29, 2021, Lagosians will not be able to watch analogue Television Stations.
Also speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the set-top box does not require monthly subscriptions, except for an annual access fee of N1,500.
He said it took the DSO train over three years to arrive in Lagos State.
“The switch-on of Lagos is unique and epochal, because it marks the first time that the DSO project would be beaming 60 choice channels to television households,” the Minister said.
“This is not by accident. Lagos is Nigeria’s creative hub, hence it is important to harness the creative talents that abound in the state through this project.”
He stated that the switch-on of Lagos is unique as “It is not just about high sounds and pictures but creating jobs.”
“It offers its viewers about 60 free digital channels. It will allow you to monitor and enforce the payment of radio and television. License. It will enhance the Lagos smart city project. A large number of million jobs to be created in the next two years will come from Lagos State.” He said
He added that the government is hopeful analogue broadcasting will be completely switched-off in the country by December 2022.
According to him, there are one million setup boxes ready and many more set to be released by the manufacturers.
He explained that the Digital Switchover is for the common Nigerians who cannot afford to pay for the rising subscriptions of the pay-TV companies.
