EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.0 Background
Ghana signed the Geneva 2006 (GE06) Agreement, establishing the Digital Terrestrial
Broadcasting Plan in the bands 174 – 230 MHz and 470 – 862 MHz at the Regional
Radiocommunications Conference (RRC-06) in 2006. The Agreement set 17 June 2015 as the
deadline for the cessation of international protection for analogue broadcasting transmissions in
the said bands.

In a bid to ensure Ghana’s conformance to the GE06 Agreement, the Minister of

Communications, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, on 13th January, 2010 inaugurated a 26 member
National Digital Broadcasting Migration Technical Committee (“the Committee”) to among
others make policy recommendations to the Government to enable Ghana achieve a cost
effective and timely migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. The committee, under the
leadership of the National Communications Authority (NCA) comprised representatives of all
stakeholder Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government; industry players and
educational institutions. The committee held several meetings, workshops, stakeholder
engagements, presentations from equipment and technology vendors, press engagements, etc.

This report is a culmination of the committee’s work. It focuses on the migration from analogue
to digital terrestrial television (DTT). Satellite and cable TV in Ghana are already digitalized.
Most Ghanaians however depend on terrestrial TV (which is TV that uses a common aerial for
signal reception) for information dissemination; education and entertainment.

The migration from analogue to digital television broadcasting would most likely have an impact
on almost every citizen of this country considering the pervasiveness of terrestrial TV. It is
therefore important that the migration is properly managed to ensure that every Ghanaian who
watches TV today is able to continue watching TV in the digital domain.

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2.0 Justification
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) offers improved spectrum efficiency compared to analogue
TV. It also offers enhanced video and audio quality, interactivity, as well as increased
programme choices.

The migration from analogue to digital is necessary and urgent for the following reasons:
 To comply with and adopt the tenets of the GE-06 Agreement.
 To rapidly adopt spectrum efficient methods in the management of the scarce RF
spectrum to broaden its utility as a resource in the interest and benefit of stakeholders.
 To prevent dumping of obsolete analogue transmission equipment into the country to
protect the environment, investors and consumers.
 To enhance the quality and experience of TV viewers in Ghana by improving terrestrial
TV transmission and reception.
 To promote environmental sanity through co-location of broadcast transmission
infrastructure.

3.0 Key Findings

The Committee identified that there is no single worldwide standard for digital broadcasting.
Different markets have developed or adopted different standards. Europe and Africa have
adopted Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), North America has adopted Advanced Television
Systems Committee (ATSC) and the Japanese and some South American states have adopted
Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) standards.

The Committee recommends the adoption of DVB-T (EN 300 744) for terrestrial digital
television broadcasting, in accordance with the decisions taken at RRC-06 because it has been
proven to deliver all the benefits expected from digital broadcasting. DVB-T has also been
proven to deliver all the functionalities that ISDB, the Japanese standard, can offer. The
implementation of this technical standard would strengthen the resolve of Member States in
ECOWAS to harmonize their policies related to the digital broadcasting migration for enhanced
frequency coordination.
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Since DVB-T systems have already been deployed in Accra, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Kumasi and
Takoradi, the same standard should be deployed across the country until the completion of the
switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting. Deploying DVB-T systems would enable the
country benefit from the economies of scale that would accrue from the large scale adoption of
the standard in Africa, Europe and parts of the Middle East.

The Committee also recommends the adoption of H.264/AVC/MPEG-4 (part 10) and Advanced
Audio Coding (AAC) as the standard for video and audio source coding/compression
respectively.

In order to continue viewing television using the current analogue TV sets, the public will be
required to use Set-Top-Boxes (STBs). This presents an avenue for employment generation
through the establishment of set-top box (STB) assembly plants. It is expected that over six (6)
million set-top boxes may be required to convert analogue TV sets to receive digital signals. The
Committee observed that an electronics assembly industry is emerging in Ghana following the
successful establishment of computer/laptop assembly plants, mobile phone assembly plants and
flat screen monitors/TV set assembly plants in the last few years.

Digital broadcasting offers an opportunity to overcome the challenge of poor infrastructure

sharing in broadcasting, since one transmission network can carry multiple programme channels.
Facility sharing is convenient, environmentally friendly, less hazardous and cost effective in the
digital broadcasting domain. The Committee considered that one (1) independent signal
distribution entity established through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) would be ideal for the
digital broadcasting market in Ghana.

The cost of the digital migration process would include the cost of rolling out transmission
infrastructure, site surveys, acquisition of set-top-boxes, content generation and public education.
The committee put together the following cost estimates for various segments of the migration
process to serve as a guide for budgetary purposes. The estimates are as follows:

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  Transmission Infrastructure covering about 42 sites nationwide could cost between US$
26,141,000 – US$ 98,390,000). These wide ranging figures are as a result of varying
assumptions. To ascertain real costs, it is recommended that a Request for Proposals
(RFP) outlining exactly what is required should be published by the appropriate
procuring agency.

 The Free on Board (FOB) price for MPEG-4 DVB-T set-top boxes ranges from
US$23.50 to US$45 depending on the functionalities. The Committee recommends that
appropriate fiscal measures are developed and implemented to promote affordable access
to set-top boxes especially for the vulnerable in society.

 An intensive 3 month communication campaign covering production for print, TV &

Radio; Nationwide Media Placements for Print, Radio and TV; Press Relations, media
interviews, stories, features and documentaries; Community outreach events and Agency
service charges could cost from GH¢1,245,000 – GH¢1,875,000.

The committee explored possible sources of funding. It was noted that there was a possibility of
the Government of Ghana obtaining a Japanese Government Soft Loan to roll-out a public
transmission network regardless of the standards adopted by the country. This became known
through the Committee’s interaction with a group from Japan Telecommunications Engineering
and Consulting Service (JTEC).

4.0 Recommendations
The Committee makes the following recommendations to facilitate the migration from analogue
to digital broadcasting taking into consideration the key findings.

1. The Committee recommends the publishing of an appropriate Policy Statement including

a timetable for the entire process.

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2. Ghana should adopt the DVB-T (EN 300 744) standard for terrestrial digital television
broadcasting, in accordance with the decisions taken at RRC-06. Furthermore,
H.264/AVC/MPEG-4 (part 10) and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) should be adopted
as the standard for video and audio source coding/ compression respectively.

3. DVB-S and DVB-C standards should be adopted for digital satellite and digital cable
television respectively.

4. A technology neutral approach should be adopted for mobile TV because at least two (2)
mobile TV standards have been commercially introduced in the country.

5. The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) should be resourced and mandated to conduct
receiver compliance testing for Free-to-air Digital TV receivers. After analogue switch-
off, all television receivers made, assembled or imported into Ghana should contain a
digital tuner that conforms to the national standards. Furthermore, six (6) months to the
date announced by the Minister of Communications for the commencement of analogue
switch-off, TV receivers that do not conform to the standards should be identified by
sellers at the point-of-sale as not conforming to Ghana’s DTT standard.

6. Government should undertake an amendment of the Electronic Communications Act,

2008, (Act 775) to provide for the following:
 Empower the Minister of Communications to:
a. Announce a date for the switch-off of analogue television transmission under
certain conditions such as the availability of digital TV signals and an appreciable
level of uptake by the citizenry.
b. Announce a date to outlaw the importation of television receivers that do not have
built-in digital tuners and to mandate sellers of television receivers to indicate at
the point of sale if receivers do not have built-in digital tuners.

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 c. To establish and resource a Digital Broadcasting Migration Implementation Body,
which would be a special purpose vehicle to oversee the migration program and
which would cease to exist six (6) months after analogue switch-off is complete.

 Mandate the National Communications Authority (NCA) to:

a. Replace licenses of existing broadcasters and to impose obligations on them
towards the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.
b. Impose obligations on signal distributor(s) including co-location of transmitters
for the same coverage target.
c. Impose must-carry obligations on satellite and cable operators when it deems it
necessary

 Other issues incidental to the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

7. At least one (1) one signal distributor should be an independent entity, established
through a PPP. The Government should establish a working group comprising
representatives from the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Communications, Ministry
of Finance and Economic Planning (Project and Financial Analysis Unit), National Media
Commission, National Communications Authority, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and
the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) to negotiate the creation and
governance structure of the signal distribution entity.

8. The Government and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) should
consider the potential of Digital Television to enhance their strategies for e-government
and bridging the digital divide.

9. The Government should establish a Digital Broadcasting Migration Help Scheme to

assist the extremely poor and vulnerable to ensure that no citizen of Ghana who currently
watches television is deprived of that right through the migration from analogue to digital
broadcasting. This Help Scheme should be designed as part of the National Social

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 Protection Strategy (NSPS) and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP)
Programme.

10. A phased analogue switch-off process should be adopted according to the following
timetable:
Activity Start Date End Date Action By
NDBMTC Final Report to 13th Jan 2010 30th August, NDBMTC
Govt 2010
Development of Legal September December MoC
Framework (Amendment of 2010 2010 AG
Electronic Communications NCA
Act 775) NDBMTC
Public Awareness Campaign September December NDBMTC
2010 2010
Establishment of National January 2011 GOG, MOC,
Digital Migration MoI, MoFEP,
Implementation Body NCA, NMC,
GBC, GIBA
Licences for Digital TV January 2011 March 2011 NCA
NCA/NMC Sub-
committee
Public Awareness Campaign January 2011 December National Digital
2014 Migration
Implementation
Body
Nationwide Roll-out of April 2011 2013 National Digital
Digital TV (Simulcast Migration
Period) Implementation
Coverage of all Regional By December 2012 Body
Capitals & environs

Phased Analogue Switch-off To be determined according to National Digital

locations and conditions Migration
Implementation
Body
Completion of Switchover December 2014 (target date)
Appraisal Report of Six months after completion of
Switchover Process switchover

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 11. A National Digital Migration Implementation Body should be established to oversee the
migration process. This should be a new, single-purpose, centralised delivery vehicle
with a clear remit to lead the implementation of the project. Such a body is most likely to
deliver the migration on time and within cost.

12. A well coordinated public education programme should be undertaken to prepare the
populace for the migration process in order to avert chaos, panic and anxiety.

13. The Committee recommends that an enabling environment should be created within the
framework of the Ghana Industrial Policy, 2010 to encourage the establishment of local
Set-Top-Box assembly plants to create employment opportunities for the youth.
Furthermore, Government should consider waiving taxes on set-top box components to
encourage local assembly of the boxes in Ghana.

14. It is recommended that Government considers the Japanese Government Soft Loan
proposed by JTEC to assist in financing the migration project.

15. The Committee recommends the provision of support to Tertiary institutions to develop
the human capital to support Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). This support could be
by way of funding DTT research, curriculum revision or development, etc.

5.0 Conclusion

The migration of broadcasting from analogue to digital offers several benefits to TV viewers,
broadcasters, regulators, Government and the entire nation. The radio frequency spectrum,
expected to be freed-up at the completion of the digital migration process, often referred to as
'digital dividend', could be leveraged to generate Government revenue and further extend ICT
services nationwide.

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However, the complexity and reach of this public change programme presents a number of
challenges which require a robust policy approach, the appropriate legal and regulatory
framework and extensive public education. It is important that the migration process is managed
efficiently to accelerate service uptake, reduce cost and to ensure a timely delivery of the
expected benefits.

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