Digital Switch-Over: NBC, NigComSat Defend Strategy, Promise Wider Access, No Special Decoders Required.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) have defended Nigeria’s revised Digital Switch-Over (DSO) strategy, saying it is designed to expand access, eliminate entry barriers, and make broadcasting commercially sustainable.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Nationa Broadsting Commission NBC, Director-General Charles Ebuebu said the DSO has been redesigned to correct long-standing structural challenges that delayed Nigeria’s digital migration for years.

He said the new framework is aimed at delivering a unified broadcasting system that allows more Nigerians to access free-to-air content while strengthening the creative and broadcast economy.

Ebuebu dismissed concerns around decoder requirements, insisting that Nigerians will not need specialised set-top boxes to access the FreeTV platform.

According to him, about 10 million compatible digital receivers already in circulation can connect directly to the service, allowing households to access more than 100 channels without subscription fees.

He explained that Nigeria’s digital migration has shifted from a purely Digital Terrestrial Television model to a hybrid system combining terrestrial transmission, satellite delivery, and internet-based streaming.

He added that the platform will also be accessible via mobile applications, enabling Nigerians to watch television content on smartphones and other internet-enabled devices.

On infrastructure, NigComSat Managing Director Jane Egerton-Idehen said Nigeria’s current communications satellite is expected to be replaced in 2028, with procurement processes and technical planning already underway.

She noted that two international vendors were selected after a two-year evaluation process and assured that contingency plans are in place to prevent any disruption to broadcasting services.

As part of the engagement, journalists were taken on a facility tour to the DTH room in Abuja, where engineers demonstrated live satellite feeds and explained how multiple channels are distributed through NigComSat infrastructure without reliance on traditional transmission towers.