FG to complete digital broadcasting transition after years of delay

The Federal Government has confirmed that Nigeria will officially launch the nationwide Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme on June 17, 2026, marking the final phase of the country’s long-delayed transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting after years of missed deadlines and implementation setbacks. The announcement was made in Abuja by the Minister of Information […]

The Federal Government has confirmed that Nigeria will officially launch the nationwide Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme on June 17, 2026, marking the final phase of the country’s long-delayed transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting after years of missed deadlines and implementation setbacks.

The announcement was made in Abuja by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a tour of facilities at NIGCOMSAT, located at the Obasanjo Space Centre.

The visit was attended by the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Charles Ebuebu, and the NIGCOMSAT Managing Director, Jane Egerton-Idehen, alongside other senior government officials.

Describing the development as a major breakthrough for the country’s media landscape, Idris said Nigeria was finally ready to deliver on a transition process that had lingered for years despite global moves toward digital broadcasting.

“This is a new dawn for our country,” the minister said, noting that the initiative aligns with the President ’s broader reform agenda aimed at modernising critical sectors of the economy.

Nigeria’s digital migration journey began following a directive by the ITU, which required member states to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting. The transition is expected to improve picture quality, expand channel capacity, and free up spectrum space for telecommunications and other digital services.

The government also believes the DSO rollout will deepen competition within the broadcasting sector by dismantling monopolistic structures that previously dominated television distribution. Idris said the new system would encourage more local content production, improve service delivery, and expand access to free-to-air television services nationwide.

Under the upgraded framework, viewers are expected to enjoy clearer High Definition (HD) television signals delivered through satellite and mobile application platforms powered by NIGCOMSAT technology.

Officials also said the new DSO model was designed to avoid the affordability challenges that affected earlier attempts, particularly the high cost of encrypted set-top boxes, making access easier for Nigerians across the country.