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FG bans importation of analogue TVs, transmitters

By BusinessNews Staff on January 17, 2014

From June 17 this year, it will not be business as usual for importers and users of analogue television sets and transmitters as the Federal Government will place a ban on the products.

The move is aimed at phasing out analogue technologies in line with the Federal Government’s digitisation agenda.

The programme being driven by the National Broadcasting Commission will also result in the stoppage of the importation and use of analogue transmitters for broadcasting purposes throughout the country.

The Director-General, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, told our correspondent that the commission was working with the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that the importation of analogue TV sets, transmitters and other equipment was stopped in order to avoid the accumulation of electronic wastes since the equipment would no longer be useful.

Mba said from June 17, some TV sets currently in use in the country would stop working as only digitally-enabled sets would be functional.

He said, “When the digital switchover happens, there won’t be importation of analogue sets, that is, the second-hand or Tokunbo TVs and analogue transmitters anymore. Certain TV sets will not work again.

“People using digitally-enabled sets with digital tuners may not need decoders because signals can be picked from the air; but antennas will be needed.”

The NBC boss said the commission was aware of the quantum of transmitters in the country, and would not relent in phasing out analogue ones in 2015.

Mba said issues surrounding the digital transmitters already in use in the country would be handled by the relevant companies in charge of transmission in the new era.

According to him, there is no going back on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

Digitisation, as far as broadcasting is concerned, is the conversion of the broadcast and communication systems from analogue systems to digital.

It is an important global movement driven by the International Telecommunications Union to revolutionise broadcasting. Based on consensus, it was agreed between the NBC and the ITU that the country could conveniently transit to digital broadcasting by June 2015.

In its bid to drive the initiative and better inform Nigerians about the project, the NBC had stressed that digitisation improved the quality of reception and ensured a more efficient use of the spectrum, which is a scarce and finite natural resource belonging to all citizens and held in trust by licensees.

[Punch]

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