Digital Migration to Create 7,000 Jobs

Dr Edward Omane BoamahMore than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created over the next two years in Ghana’s emerging digital television decoder, known as Set Top Box (STB) sector.

The Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, who announced this explained that the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting would lead to employment opportunities for the distribution, sale, installation and maintenance of set top boxes.

He, therefore, encouraged Ghanaian youth to prepare themselves to take advantage of the opportunities the migration offers.

Signing an agreement between the Ministry of Communications, and KNET Limited, a Ghanaian-owned private firm, for the start of work on the National Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) network solution, Dr. Boamah said the contract was $13 million cheaper than the StarTimes contract. The Chinese IT firm contract, which was recently abrogated to cost Ghana $95 million, plus US$1 million interest for 22 years.

He stated: “The engagement of KNET Limited, a fully owned Ghanaian entity amplifies Government’s resolve to develop local capacity. The payment for the contract sum of $82.3 million will be made from the proceeds of the auction of the spectrum to be released following migration of broadcasters from analogue to digital referred to as “Digital Dividend”.

The auction of the digital dividend and the use of part of the proceeds in financing the DTT network roll out eliminate the need for any loans either concessionary or commercial for this project and provide certainty on the implementation program to the comfort of all stakeholders.”

Under the contract, KNET Limited will supply and install energy infrastructure, known as the Digital Video Broadcasting Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2) network, to ensure the smooth migration to DTT nationwide.

The contract signed on Tuesday demands the completion of the DTT network in12 months. The project, approved by the Cabinet and other agencies is structured to be executed in nine months and a further three months for resolving all teething challenges.

Free to Air digital television signals should be available in the country within 12months. The terrestrial network will be complemented with satellite services within the protocol framework that ensures that all areas are adequately served with digital TV signals, according to Dr. Boamah.

Upon completion of the Network roll out, the analogue and digital transmissions will run concurrently (simulcast) for a period not exceeding one year for the uptake of the digital system before a complete switch-off of the analogue transmitters.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has already certified STB’s or decoders. Analogue TV sets will continue to be useful. It will however require a STB to continue receiving signals broadcast in digital formats.

While the Ministry and the Digital Broadcasting Migration Committee (DBMC) have prepared comprehensive public education and awareness materials for the migration from analogue to digital television. The campaign will be rolled out.

Dr. Boamah stressed: “We would like to call on all broadcasters to assist the Ministry and the NCA to sustain the public education and awareness campaign when it commences.

This is to ensure that we educate and carry along all stakeholders during the migration process. We encourage all broadcasters to voluntarily campaign on the need for the transition from analogue to digital and the benefits to be derived”.

Touching on the advantages and benefits of migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, the Minister noted: “Television viewers will benefit from better picture quality, clear sound, more channels, more choices and interactivity.

Television viewing experience will be enhanced and television sets will no longer be for traditional TV viewing, only, but also as devices for accessing diverse digital services”.

Benefits to broadcasters would be in reduced capital expenditure, freeing up cash flows for content and also increased transmission capacity as well as expanded coverage with huge potential for increased revenues and profits as operational cost decline.

Emerging broadcasters will have the added benefits of a shorter turnaround time for investment returns and a substantially reduced annual operational cost. Broadcasters on a digital platform will be judged no longer on coverage but on quality of content and branding, Dr Boamah added.

He underscored the need for exclusive content that was needed to sustain and grow audience share would drive demand for content providers.

“Local content will be encouraged. This will result in the benefit of increased job opportunities for emerging talents.

The sale of spectrum for broadband applications will expand the range of value added services, encourage competition and lead to competitive pricing of products and services. The country will benefit from the revenue to be realized from the sale of the harvested spectrum. There will also be efficiencies in the management of the sector”.

Dr. Boamah acknowledged the support and sense of national commitment demonstrated by all stakeholders and in particular the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), DBMC, National Media Commission, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ministry of Finance and the NCA.

Ken Ansah, who signed on behalf of KNET Limited, assured the government that the project would be within the time frame.

African Eye News.com

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