Ghana develops conformance regime for analogue to digital transition

Digital broadcastingThe National Communication Authority (NCA) has developed a conformance regime as part of measures to implement the transition from Analogue to Digital television transmission.

The Conformance regime required all Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) receivers such as set top boxes and integrated digital TV sets sold in Ghana to pass a conformance test to be certified to use a receiver certification logo.

Mr Edmund Fianko, Manager Engineering Division, NCA said to ensure that all DTT receivers sold on the Ghana Market conformed to acceptable receiver standards, the NCA has published standards for DTT receivers.

Mr Fianko said this at the sensitization workshop on DTT receiver regime and discusses the new NCA requirement for manufacture, Assembly, importation and sale of TV sets and decoders in Ghana in Accra on Wednesday.

He said the Authority had accredited and shortlisted eligible test laboratories to provide standard tests on all models of set-top boxes to verify that these DT receivers conforms to minimum requirement for free to Air digital television receivers.

He said with the introduction of the DTT, consumers would benefit from higher spectrum efficiency, better quality picture, more television choices and more interactivity.

He cautioned consumers to be aware that not all flat screen TV were digital ready and not all digital TV set comply with Ghana standards.

“It is important to protect the consumer in the choice of digital TV,” he said.

Mr Fianko said the transitional period for the full implementation of the regime would commence effective from 31st December 2014, during this period manufactures may affix the logo after import.

He said when the transition process was completed consumers would get a minimum of 20 free to Air channels

Mr Albert Enninful, Deputy Director-General, NCA, said as Ghana made headway with DTT, it might be possible for other ECOWAS States to learn from Ghana.

He said the benefit, then for businesses would be the possibility of increased trade within the West Africa.

He urged media organisations to partner with the Authority to educate the public on the transition process.

Source: GNA

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