The Chairman, Presidential Committee on the Transition
from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting, Mr. Edward Amana has disclosed that
about US$2bn (about N317 billion) will accrue to the federal government from
the auction of unused mobile broadband spectrum.
Amana, whose committee is also known as the DigiTeam,
informed DigitalSENSE
Business News that the unused mobile broadband spectrum is a
fall-out from those vacated from the ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands television stations, to
be auctioned to prospective telecommunications operators.
He explained that the telecommunications operators
require additional bandwidth in order to deliver faster internet services which
Nigerians are willing to pay for, hence everything is being done to commence
the switchover to digital broadcasting in the first quarter of 2014, beginning
from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
According to the law maker, NCC will be the beneficiary of
the left over spectrum when the digitization switchover is completed and
stressed that "One of the benefits of digital transition is that by the
time we switchover from analogue to digital, part of the upper UHF will now be
available for the telecoms operator to use for mobile broadband, which will
further enhance their service delivery and make life in the rural areas a lot
more easier for those who can afford it,”
During the inauguration of the council for the
national mobile broadband headed by Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, DigitalSENSE Business News
recorded that the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson
assured Nigerians that the role out of mobile broadband would soon be available
in the rural areas.
AN/GEE
pix: Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson
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