Policy to guide digital migration before Cabinet

The Ministry of Communication has submitted to Cabinet for approval a new policy to regulate activities in the broadcasting industry in Ghana.

The policy, called  “Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), Broadcasting Policy 2016”, seeks to guide the transmissions from analogue to digital platform.

The Deputy Minister of Communication, Mr Ato Sarpong, in an interview with the GRAPHIC BUSINESS in Accra, said the ministry had successfully completed a comprehensive policy to guide the industry.

He said a successful migration and transition from analogue broadcasting to digital terrestrial television broadcasting required government policy to guide the migration process and set a framework for a progressive digital terrestrial television environment.

According to him, the policy already had the input of all stakeholders, including the National Communications Authority (NCA), the National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the general public.

Objectives

On the objectives of the policy, the deputy minister said the document would create a policy environment for migrating  analogue broadcasting to DTT and smooth implementation of the DTT network solution.  

He indicated that the policy would also guarantee the availability of all existing terrestrial analogue television stations in digital formats in at least their current existing coverage.

“It will allow all existing television households access to digital television services and ensure universal access to free-to-air television services,” he noted.

Switch-over 

Mr Sarpong said that the government had given September 21, 2017 deadline to switch-off all analogue transmitters and frequencies in the country. 

This means that all television broadcasting platforms would be switched from broadcasting programmes in analogue transmission to digital transmission on September 21, 2017.

He urged the public not to dispose of what he described as “hunch back” television sets but rather purchase approved digital terrestrial set-up box in order to enjoy the digital platform.

“Television users in Ghana who do not have a digital terrestrial box will not be able to enjoy their television programmes since they will not receive signals that transmit to their television set at the September 21, 2017 deadline,” he said. 

He underscored the need for the public to be extra cautious when purchasing television sets, saying “not all flat screen television sets on the market are digital and not all digital television sets conform to Ghanaian standard”