Digital Terrestrial Television workshop for media held in Accra

Accra, Feb. 5, GNA - The National Communications Authority (NCA) has organized a day's workshop for media personnel on the Digital Terrestrial Television campaign in Accra.

The workshop was aimed at enhancing the understanding and sensitizing personnel on what would be expected of them and the industry as Ghana gradually moves from analogue to digital broadcast.

Dr Chief P. A Crystal-Djirackor, Chairman of the Communications Publicity Sub-Committee of the Digital Migration Committee, said going digital would improve the country in educational development and information dissemination amongst others.

He said the media is expected to specifically have the information prior to the launch of the educational campaign.

He said Ghana is migrating to digital broadcasting to offer among other things efficiency in the use of spectrum, allowing the transmission of several programs with one single channel that previously was only able to carry one analogue channel.

'Improved picture and sound quality, giving pleasure to television viewers, better wireless broadband services, by freeing up spectrum to other communications operators who want to provide improved services', he said.

Dr Crystal-Djirackor said the media is an important stakeholder in the telecommunications industry and it is through its effort that anyone could reach out to consumers, and media knowledge and understanding about the transition would help all stakeholders better engage in the process.

He said the media's role as partners is to understand and communicate how the right equipment guarantees the consumer better experience with DTT, gain an indept knowledge of the conformation regime with regards to set-top boxes and TV sets to support and enhance end-user experience.

The media would also be expected to address counterfeiting of consumer equipment and other concerns of the consumer; resolve possible issues that are likely to come up as they interact with the general public and have a manual to ensure that the right information is given to consumers.

Mr William Tevie, Acting Director General of the NCA, said the media has a stake in the public education campaign and through the workshop it would be equipped with an overview of the DTT, adding that it would also help the NCA get closer to its goals.

He said the NCA has developed minimum specifications for set-top boxes and television sets after Ghana, as a member of the International Telecommunications Union's Geneva 2006 Agreement, committed to migrate towards digital broadcasting which started in June 17, 2006 and expected to end by June 17, 2015.

He said the NCA has been working with the digital broadcasting migration Committee and the Ghana Standards Authority to come up with acceptable canons for set-top boxes and television sets in the country.

'The minimum specifications have been developed because the free to air terrestrial television stations and all other stations with similar licenses will migrate their transmissions from analogue to a digital platform,' he said.

Mr Tevie said the objective of the specification is to ensure that all DTT receivers receive good quality video and sound for the viewer and guarantee the lowest cost for the free-to-air receiver.

He noted that in order to ensure that DTT receivers sold on the Ghanaian market conformed to acceptable standards; the NCA has published standards for the receivers.

'The set-top boxes and integrated digital television sets ought to pass a test to be certified to use a receiver logo, and the logo will confirm to consumers that the receiver was Ghana DTT compliant', he said.

He said the NCA would continue to work with the media to support government's objective towards the Digital Terrestrial Migration project. GNA