Ijeoma Agudosi
Nigeria’s aspiration to fully migrate to digital switchover (DSO) is inching toward realisation with the endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Media Concepts International (MCI) and a South Korean firm, KAON.
The MOU will facilitate the establishment of a plant in the country.
Construction work for the plant to be located in Lagos, will take off by December.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had earlier indicated that the project would take off in April 2016 and will focus on the production of Set Top Box (STB).
MCI is one of the 13 indigenous companies licensed by NBC for the manufacturing of STBs in the country.
The STBs will be used to convert analogue television sets to show digital channels at the homes of millions of Nigerians.
The plant is expected to employ over 1,000 technical staff that will be trained on local assembly in the first instance and full manufacturing of set top boxes locally.
Nigeria’s digital switchover (DSO) driven by the private sector will lead to production of set top boxes and viewing of digital channels in line with the directive of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Speaking at the MoU signing agreement in the presence of the Director-General of NBC, Emeka Mba, MCI’s Babatope Agbeyo said their technical partner, KAON, which is among the top three STB manufacturers in the world, will not just bring its expertise but will ensure technology transfer in the manufacturing and maintenance of STBs. It will invest as an equity holder in the Nigerian plant.
He said it is a massive project that will redefine digital media broadcasting and speed up the digital migration process with the conversion of analogue television sets to digital broadcasting.
“We chose KAON as our technical partner because it is among the top three STB manufacturers in the world with footprints in Asia, Europe, Latin America and now Africa.”
Agbeyo said KAON recently established set top box manufacturing plant in South Africa and will be helping the digital migration processes in South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal in addition to Nigeria.