Current DSO’s operating business model not attractive to investors—ITS boss, Rotimi
Fresh reason on why more investors are still flat-footed in venturing into the Digital Switch over (DSO) driven by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has been revealed.
Speaking recently in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the tour of transmission facilities by the National Assembly ad hoc Committee on DSO, the General Manager of Integrated Television Services (ITS), Mr. Musbau Rotimi said the operating business model for the digital transition in Nigeria is unfavourable and discourages cost-maximisation.
ITS is one of the signal distribution companies for the nation’s DSO handling Kwara State rollout.
The lawmakers were in the state capital to inspect the progress of digital installation work at the NTA premises which is expected to go live very soon by the timetable of the Commission.
According to ITS boss, issues around the current business model have been a bone of contention for long, especially for signal distributors, saying that has been the challenge that foiled the June 17 deadline in the first instance.
He noted that “Already, the Minister of Information and Culture has called for a review of it. We are eagerly awaiting the review as this will discourage the current situation where those who operate at the fringes and contribute minimally from reaping so much at the detriment of the major stakeholders”.
He revealed that his team has concluded all necessary requirements for the launch and is only waiting for NBC to complete technical inputs for the switch on.
While denying growing speculations that equipment used at the Ilorin centre was substandard and obsolete, he argued that the trending complaints were misplaced due to lack of superior understanding of the technology behind the equipment.
He said “Everything used for the Ilorin switch-over installations met standard as specified by Digiteam/NBC for dvbt2,” he said, stressing that technology in the broadcast industry was dynamic and never a straight jacket thing where one fits all.
The visiting lawmakers’ in unison, advised the signal distributor to do his best in meeting the deadline in the switch on of the state to avoid undue hiccup of the digitization process.
