NigComSat
FG projects over $1bn dividend from digital broadcasting spectrum, says DSO to unlock N605bn advertising revenue
The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria is projected to earn more than one billion dollars in dividends from the freed digital broadcasting spectrum on the 700/800MHz frequency bands, as preparations intensify for the launch of the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme on June 17, 2026.
The government also stated that the DSO initiative would unlock approximately N605 billion in revenue from Nigeria’s advertising market, while generating multiple income streams for broadcasters and content creators nationwide.
Speaking at a joint news conference at the headquarters of the Nigeria Satellite Communications Limited (NigComSat) in Abuja, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Charles Ebuebu, described the DSO initiative as a game changer for terrestrial and digital broadcasting in Nigeria.
Ebuebu, alongside the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NigComSat, Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, briefed journalists and conducted a tour of satellite facilities and infrastructure ahead of the programme’s official launch. He explained that successful implementation of the DSO project would unlock significant economic opportunities for the country.
According to him, “The freed digital dividend spectrum (700/800 MHz) is estimated to be worth over one billion dollars in auction proceeds, which will be reinvested into digital infrastructure and rural broadband.”
He added that the DSO programme would also strengthen the nation’s creative economy, which currently contributes about N5 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product and employs over 4.2 million Nigerians. “The creative economy will gain a modern distribution spine, enabling content export across West Africa via NigComSat-1R,” he said.
The NBC boss further noted that broadcasters would benefit from verifiable audience data through the GARB system, allowing them to attract fair advertising rates based on actual viewership figures. He said the platform would provide nationwide coverage across all 36 states, including remote communities previously underserved by terrestrial television signals.
Ebuebu also disclosed that six regional studios would be established under the digital broadcasting ecosystem to support content production in indigenous languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Tiv, Fulfulde, Ijaw, Edo, Ibibio, Efik, and Nupe.
On her part, NigComSat’s Managing Director, Mrs Egerton-Idehen, highlighted the infrastructure-sharing arrangement between NigComSat and NBC, describing the partnership as strategic to the DSO programme’s sustainability.
She revealed that NigComSat plans to acquire two additional satellites before the end of 2028 to strengthen digital broadcasting and communication services in the country.
Egerton-Idehen said the deployment of satellite infrastructure to support the DSO initiative would further position NigComSat as a dominant player in the industry.
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