FG launches new digital switch over platform

…set to drive job creation

The Federal Government has launched a new Digital Switch Over (DSO) platform.

The new platform launched at the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) headquarters in Abuja yesterday is projected to stimulate massive job creation, boost local manufacturing, and catalyze growth across the nation’s creative and digital economies.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the milestone as a critical step toward modernizing Nigeria’s broadcasting industry and a vital component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He emphasized that a fully implemented DSO ecosystem will unlock fresh revenue streams for broadcasters and content creators while expanding audience reach and strengthening indigenous content production.

Idris noted that the rollout follows extensive consultations with key industry stakeholders including signal distributors, set-top box manufacturers, content producers, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

He clarified that the new model will not phase out existing technology but will operate as a hybrid framework combining Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), Direct-to-Home satellite delivery, and digital application-based platforms.

Corroborating the economic impact of the project, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, hailed the DSO as a foundational pillar of the government’s broader infrastructure strategy aimed at building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

Dr. Tijani highlighted concurrent infrastructure efforts, including ongoing plans to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fibre-optic cable and the presidential approval for launching two additional communication satellites to fortify national connectivity.

Key heads of the driving agencies, including the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Charles Ebuebu, and the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, expressed optimism that the platform’s satellite-backed architecture will effectively bridge the digital divide and reposition Nigeria as Africa’s premier digital broadcasting hub.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who attended as the Special Guest of Honour, lauded the synergy between the government and private stakeholders.

He affirmed that the legislature remains supportive of policies that enhance high-quality broadcasting access and stimulate sustainable media investments.