National broadcaster, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), is planning to accept bids for potential signal distributors in August. It moves ahead of the deadline to switch to digital from analogue.

The Nigerian state broadcaster says it will also begin tests to explore the stations readiness to meet the June 2015 deadline which was set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

NBC’s Director General, Emeka Mba, confirmed the development in Lagos. He said that 40 million households in the country have to purchase set-top boxes which will enable them to watch television when the digital switch kicks in.

The government of Nigeria says it has plans to subsidize the prices of the set-top boxes, the body added that this was done in many federal governments globally.

The Director General continued on to say that the digital switch could allow more room for spectrum expansion to boost the nation’s broadband and internet penetration levels. The digital broadcasting transition started in 2006 following an agreement by ITU member states.

 

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