The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria’s long-delayed Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme is set to unlock an estimated ₦605.2 billion advertising market and generate over $1 billion from the auction of digital spectrum, as authorities move to fully transition the country from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this during a joint media briefing in Abuja on Monday.
The officials said the Federal Government’s renewed “Big Picture” strategy is designed to create a commercially sustainable, technologically inclusive and nationally accessible digital broadcasting ecosystem capable of transforming Nigeria’s media and creative industries.
Ebuebu announced that the nationwide rollout of the new digital broadcasting framework will commence on June 17, 2026, while the final analogue switch-off date has been fixed for December 31, 2028.
According to the NBC, the transition to digital broadcasting will significantly expand opportunities within the nation’s advertising industry through credible audience measurement systems, allowing broadcasters, advertisers and content creators to better monetise viewership and access new revenue streams.
The Commission further stated that the release of the 700MHz and 800MHz digital dividend spectrum is projected to yield more than $1 billion in auction proceeds, with the funds expected to be reinvested into digital infrastructure development and rural broadband expansion across the country.
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Government officials also said the DSO initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy, which currently contributes about N5 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and provides employment for over 4.2 million Nigerians.
They noted that the upgraded digital distribution system would enable Nigerian content creators to distribute and export local content more efficiently across West Africa through the NigComSat-1R satellite platform.
Speaking on concerns over service reliability, Egerton-Idehen disclosed that NIGCOMSAT has already secured a fully funded commercial backup satellite arrangement at the same 42.5° East orbital slot to prevent service disruptions in the event of operational challenges affecting NigComSat-1R.
No Monthly Subscription on FreeTV
Addressing affordability concerns surrounding the transition, Ebuebu explained that the proposed FreeTV platform would operate without monthly subscription fees. He added that open-standard DVB-S2 decoders are already available in the Nigerian market at prices ranging between N15,000 and N25,000.
He also revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding subsidy schemes and financing support for low-income households to ease access to digital receiving devices during the transition period.
The NBC further stated that the DSO rollout is expected to stimulate local manufacturing and assembly of set-top boxes due to anticipated demand for millions of digital receivers nationwide over the coming years.
Ebuebu disclosed that broadcasters joining the FreeTV platform would enjoy an 18-month free carriage window, while the digital platform itself is expected to deliver more than 100 television channels, including dedicated indigenous language channels aimed at promoting local culture and inclusivity.
He called on broadcasters, telecommunications operators, signal distributors, advertisers, manufacturers and state governments to support the implementation of the programme to ensure its success.
The NBC boss also announced that a national DSO stakeholders’ meeting would be convened within 30 days after the June 17 launch to address implementation concerns, strengthen collaboration and deepen industry participation in the transition process.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.