Government has signed an $82.3 million agreement with K-NET, a network solutions provider, to build the infrastructure for the Digital Terrestrial Television, (DTT) project.
In the agreement Government will pay K-NET from the proceeds of the auctioning of the spectrum to be released following the migration from analogue to digital, known as digital dividend.
The Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah who signed on behalf of government said contract among other things will save the country some $13 million whilst creating jobs.
[contextly_sidebar id=”anzYRXDXzbZ7kTu1EpzLzWjLlEUlMHge”]He also explained that the migration will give television viewers better picture quality, clear sound, more channels and interactivity adding that television viewing experience will be enhanced.
“Benefits to broadcasters would be in reduced capital expenditure, freeing up cash flows for content and also increased transmission capacity as well as expanded coverage with huge potential for increased revenues and profits as operational cost decline. Emerging broadcasters will have the added benefits of a shorter turnaround time for investment returns and a substantially reduced annual operational cost. Broadcasters on a digital platform will be judged no longer on coverage but on quality of content and branding.”
“The need for exclusive content that is needed to sustain and grow audience share will drive demand for content providers. Local content will be encouraged. This will result in the benefit of increased job opportunities for emerging talents,” Omane Boamah added.
He said the migration will be completed within 12 months.
“Upon completion of the Network roll out, the analogue and digital transmissions will run concurrently (simulcast) for a period not exceeding 1 year for the uptake of the digital system before a complete switch-off of the analogue transmitters,” the Communications Minister added.
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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana