Federal government will in February roll out Digital Switch Over in Enugu and Osogbo in Osun State as part of its efforts to transit broadcasting from analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television nationwide.
Mallam Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu, director-general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), disclosed this at the DSO Stakeholder Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The director general said preparations for the launch in the two states were near conclusion.
Modibbo-Kawu also disclosed that the process of installation of equipment for the roll out in Gombe and Delta States were near conclusion and the launch would hold before the end of the first quarter of the year.
He gave an assurance that between the middle of the year and the third quarter of year, the NBC would have concluded DSO roll out in 12 states.
It would be recalled that the government had so far launched DSO in Jos, Abuja, Ilorin and Kaduna.
Modibbo-Kawu said the commission and other stakeholders had heightened discussions about completing the digital mapping of the country, adding that the process was vital for achieving the overall planning of the entire DSO mapping of Nigeria.
Speaking on the challenge of virtual coverage of the states and territory where the DSO had been launched, Modibbo-Kawu said it was due to topography.
He said: “Coverage is related to topography. Take an example of the FCT, it is a city of hills and undulating grounds. As I am talking to you, the signal distributor for Abuja has purchased feeder pillar transmitters, which will be installed for the entire Abuja and environs to be covered. The same thing applies in Plateau. The signal distributor has to put feeder pillar transmitter in places like Langtang for the entire state to be covered.”
Modibbo-Kawu said the commission had also taken a decision that by the end of March, it would switch off analogue transmission in Abuja and Jos to compel television viewers to get Set-Top Box.
