No analogue transmitters in Ghana by 2015

Mr. Henry Kanor, a network programmer at the National Communications Authority (NCA) has said there would be no analogue transmitters in the country by 2015.

He was speaking during a presentation at the 1st Broadcasting Consultative Forum in Accra, last Monday.

He said, “…most broadcasting frequencies in the world today use digital transmitters for transmission.” He said analogue transmitters have poor picture quality and high power transmission, making frequency planning very difficult.

He said terrestrial digital broadcasting has digital technologies that produce better sound and image quality and has more signals on transmission. He said when infrastructure owners upgrade transmission of networks, there would be a signal level of independent noise-free transmission.

He advised various broadcasters and stakeholders to buy digital equipment and upgrade their television sets for digital reception.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NCA, Major (Rtd) J.R.K Tandoh said the airwaves have been liberalized because of the importance of broadcasting in the world. He said, “Broadcasting is the key agent of change, post-industrial society for information and the primary agent in fostering knowledge and understanding.”

Major Tandoh said Ghana was the first country in Africa to have liberalized the airwaves. “Publicly owned broadcasting in Ghana has been strengthened by competition. Commercial broadcasting has provided a voice for interests and identities to which the public system had been closed”, he said.

The Director-General said there are 160 radio stations of which 120 are operating nationwide and four free-on-air television stations operating as against 10 authorized to operate. He said there are also 30 pay television stations licence using either terrestrial, satellite or cable transmission.

“The universal services at affordable cost is under threat in broadcasting. Some programming like sports programming which were available to viewers at zero cost is now available only to those who pay”, he noted.

He said the broadcasting policy must promote positive objectives and not simply defend public interests.

Major Tandoh said, “the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council has appointed Ghana to initiate research into Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) suitable for the Sub-region taking into consideration the peculiar climatic conditions prevailing in the Sub-region.”

“Broadcasters, help the nation update its technical rules and regulations”, he appealed.