Digital Switchover and Related Matters

The revival of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) is commendable.

After missing several deadlines, Nigeria has once again relaunched the DSO project to bring the country into compliance with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards. Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris announced that the nationwide rollout will begin on 17 June 2026, offering 100 free television channels to Nigerian subscribers as an added benefit. While the project’s revival is laudable, it has yet to deliver on the promised advantages that accompanied its pilot launch in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016.

The expectation that $1 billion would be unlocked from spectrum has been undermined by logistical challenges, economic losses, and accumulated debt to service providers caused by delays in completing the DSO. In addition to erratic transition progress, regulatory bottlenecks and funding gaps have hindered the auction of the 700/800 MHz bands to mobile operators. The Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) inability to auction several 5G spectrum slots has prevented it from meeting revenue targets. Experts warn that the mounting constraints could cost Nigeria N9.3 trillion in revenue, jeopardising thousands of jobs across sub‑Saharan Africa.

Licensed local manufacturers of set‑top boxes (STBs) have previously expressed concerns about alleged preferential treatment given to foreign competitors, which could stifle local production capacity, technology transfer, and job creation. This outcry coincided with alarms over delays in project funding and the alleged misappropriation of a N10 billion grant intended for local STB manufacturing. With Nigeria projecting the production of 12 million STBs, failure to address these issues could undermine the analogue‑to‑digital transition.

One of the primary benefits of the rollout, overseen by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), is the anticipated shift from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting. President Bola Tinubu approved a N10 billion grant to the NBC, which will partner with Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) to expand nationwide coverage, accelerate the DSO process, and ensure the successful delivery of digital switchover dividends. Beyond converting free‑to‑air analogue signals to digital, a successful DSO could bolster Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy, creating jobs and adding value to the supply chain.

The decision to relaunch the DSO offers the NBC a chance to restore its reputation after a series of missed deadlines in 2007, 2012, 2015, and 2017. During those years, less resourced African countries completed their switchover programmes while Nigeria struggled. The DSO is a matter of strategic national importance, yet its prolonged implementation without a legal framework reflects the country’s historically arbitrary approach to critical national projects.

In 2021, the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration staged an elaborate flag‑off ceremony for the second phase in Lagos, establishing a 13‑member ministerial task force led by then Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed. The launch followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval of N9.4 billion to settle outstanding debts with service providers. At that time, projections suggested that the broadcasting industry and digital economy would grow through increased advertising, revenue from Nollywood, and value‑added services. The June launch of the DSO is hoped to turn those aspirations into reality.