The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has disclosed that the country is projected to generate more than $1bn in dividends from the freed digital broadcasting spectrum linked to the 700/800MHz frequency bands as preparations intensify for the launch of the Digital Switch-Over programme on June 17, 2026.
The government also stated that the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) initiative is expected to unlock about N605bn in advertising revenue while creating new income opportunities for broadcasters and content creators nationwide.
Speaking during a joint news conference held at the headquarters of Nigeria Satellite Communications Limited in Abuja on Monday, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, described the DSO project as a transformative initiative for terrestrial and digital broadcasting in Nigeria.
Ebuebu, alongside the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NigComSat, Jane Egerton-Idehen, briefed journalists and conducted a tour of satellite facilities ahead of the programme’s official inauguration.
According to Ebuebu, the successful implementation of the DSO initiative would unlock major economic benefits for the country.
“The freed digital dividend spectrum (700/800 MHz) is estimated to be worth over one billion dollars in auction proceeds, which will be reinvested into digital infrastructure and rural broadband,” he said.
He added that the DSO programme would also strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy, which currently contributes about N5tn to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and supports over 4.2 million jobs.
“The creative economy will gain a modern distribution spine, enabling content export across West Africa via NigComSat-1R,” Ebuebu stated.
The NBC boss further explained that broadcasters would benefit from accurate audience measurement data through the GARB system, allowing them to secure fair advertising rates based on verified viewership statistics.
He said the DSO platform would provide nationwide television coverage across all 36 states, including remote areas previously underserved by terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure.
Ebuebu also revealed plans to establish six regional studios within the digital broadcasting ecosystem to promote indigenous language content production.
According to him, the studios would support programmes in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Tiv, Fulfulde, Ijaw, Edo, Ibibio, Efik, and Nupe languages.
Speaking on the partnership, Egerton-Idehen described the infrastructure-sharing arrangement between NigComSat and the NBC as strategic to the sustainability of the DSO programme.
She disclosed that NigComSat plans to acquire two additional satellites before the end of 2028 to strengthen digital broadcasting and communication services in Nigeria.
Egerton-Idehen noted that the deployment of satellite infrastructure for the DSO initiative would further position NigComSat as a leading player in the communications industry.
The Digital Switch-Over programme is expected to modernise Nigeria’s broadcasting sector by improving signal quality, expanding access to digital television services, and creating new opportunities within the country’s media and technology ecosystem.
