Is Nigeria Ready for Digital Migration considering the competences needed to meet the ITU deadline?

The answer is a simple no. But if you ask me if Nigeria can be ready for Digital switch over by the prescribed date, my answer will be different. It will be yes, it is possible. And that answer is based on the hope that we start work today.

I believe some work is being done. I believe we have a number of very competent people capable of delivering digital migration. But as with everything we get wrong in our dear country, its not because of a scarcity of competent personnel, its usually because of the lack of a plan, the lack of adequate funding and the placement of square pegs in visibly round holes. The new DG of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, Emeka Mba is eminently capable. The head of the federal government Digi team, Engineer Eddy Amana is also is also very experienced and knowledgably. So competence is not the question.

What are the key elements of this migration?

The formulation of a policy framework is of the utmost importance and I believe we should have one now even if it has not been made public. I believe the Digi team was inaugurated based on that policy and to make it work. Sadly though, since the inauguration of the Digi team, not much has become public knowledge. My own findings suggest that this is not because of a lack of commitment or a lack of leadership in the Digi team but as a result of a lack of funding.

Technically, following the policy the next important element, which is of course central to the entire activity, will be the build out of the network its self. Now, how this will be done and by who will depend on what the policy dictates. Will we be using a signal aggregator as well as a distributor as with the British model, or will we use just one or more signal distributors?

Those are issues, which either remain unresolved or have not come to public notice. Another critical element is of course public awareness which an area where is Digital Dialogue Conference sponsored by MultiChoice has led the way. After four conferences I dare say that the work has just began. Individual countries including Nigeria now have to sensitize their peoples.

What are the Dangers of not completing the switch over?

For one, Nigeria will be failing to keep its word. If you sign an international agreement, the proper thing is to keep to it. But I do not believe that it will come to that.

What if it comes to that?

The world will leave us behind in the area of broadcasting.  Our television viewers in border areas like Lagos may lose their signals due to interference from digital signals from neighboring countries where the transition has happened. And if this occurs, we cannot do anything about it because we are signatories to the ITU agreement.  We will also be slow to, until we migrate, start enjoying the digital dividend that comes with Digital migration.

What Digital Dividend?

The expectation is that with digital broadcasting on stream, some of the spectrum hitherto used for broadcasting will be freed up for use by telecommunication and internet companies. Government can therefore sell this freed up spectrum and make money like it did when it sold the GSM licenses.

As a communication strategist how do you think we have enough time to communicate the migration even if we finish the technical aspects of the migration?

I believe we can. The task is a huge one, but I believe we can. For starters the NBC is holding a digital broadcast conference later this month and I believe awareness will certainly be one of the issues that will be highlighted. Ours is a large and diverse country and their will be difficulties but I am certain that the job can be done provided we begin as early as possible.

This is the third Digital Dialogue Conference, why has all been sponsored by MultiChoice and are the organizers achieving your objectives?

Actually this is the fourth. The first one was in Johannesburg, the second was in Lagos, and then one was held in Ghana before this one in Dubai. And you are correct when you say all have been sponsored by MultiChoice.  Perhaps because this is a pan African initiative and MultiChoice is the biggest broadcast organization in Africa and because the company has African roots, it has the interest of Africa at heart. Really no other company can match the commitment of MultiChoice towards improving the lot of African broadcasting and this conference proves that point once again.

The quality of resource persons we have brought here is unbelievable; inventors, regulators, economists, communication experts, researchers and broadcast managers from all over the world to provide knowledge for African media and regulators. All courtesy of MultiChoice. That’s uncommon commitment. I believe we are meeting our objectives. We are spreading knowledge of the issues and the challenges Africa must deal with as the deadline for migration approaches and providing possible solutions also.