As legal tussle over an approval that received full ministerial consent continues to drag down the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on its adopted regional delivery of Digital Switch Over (DSO) from analogue to digital TV experience, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Shi Ting Wang, had handed over 300 satellite television sets to fast track the scheme on behalf of Startimes, the Signal Distributor.
The TV sets are to be distributed to selected public area and households in the rural areas to boost DSO experience while the entire process continues in phases. The project is aimed at bridging the digital divide and ensuring that all citizens especially the rural communities enjoy the full benefits of digitalization.
Business Hilights Ghana Bureau chief gathered that the presentation was in line with the pilot scheme tagged “300 village satellite TV project”, launched by the Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with StarTimes, a Chinese Multimedia company in September, 2018.
The background of the project according to the Deputy Minister of Communication, Mr George Andah, stemmed form 2015 when China, African countries and the African Union Commission convened in Johannesburg, South Africa for a Summit on China-Africa Cooperation to consolidate solidarity and cooperation among China and Africa.
At the Summit, the Chinese government indicated its willingness to implement 10 major China-Africa cooperation plans within 50 African countries, one of the plans was the provision of a grant for access to satellite TV for 10,000 African communities of which Ghana was a beneficiary.
The Minister, who received the 300 TV sets, recalled that the delivery was part of the grant, saying 900 chosen public areas in the 300 communities have benefited from two sets of solar powered projection TV systems and one set of solar 32-inch digital TV.
While noting that the donation signified the strengthening of the ties between Ghana and the People’s Republic of China, the Minister revealed that about 660 Ghanaians have acquired technical training on how to install satellite dishes, while 400 Ambassadors have been locally selected and trained by Startimes to operate and maintain the equipment in these communities to ensure sustainability of the project.
Additional checks showed that DSO in Ghana is in high gear as about 20 sets of satellite TV set-top boxes have been installed in 6000 houses in 300 communities to enable them have access to both local and international channels.
Andah further revealed that his Ministry was implementing the Digital Ghana Age by ensuring that DSO is not disturbed so that all the citizenry will become part of the developmental journey to digital terrestrial TV revolution.
