Inadequate STBs threatens switch over – Kawu

Inadequate Set Top Boxes (STBs) in the market is threatening the success so far recorded in the Digital Switch Over (DSO) process, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said.

NBC Director General, Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, disclosed this during a meeting he held with Set Top Box Manufacturers on Wednesday in Abuja.

Kawu said, “Already questions are being asked. STBs are permanently in short supply or are unavailable, even in the cities where we have launched. I am inundated daily with enquiries from all over the country about the nonavailability of boxes; these are boxes that we paid for and which should have been supplied by you.”

He said some manufacturers of STBs refused to supply the boxes paid for by NBC “but then bring them to locations of launches and sell in a most unethical manner.”

He hinted that government would break the monopoly that the manufacturers enjoyed.

“We have no power to continue protect a monopoly that you enjoy to as pioneers of the process forever.

“There is pressure by other interests that also want to be part of the production process. Let us recall that we authorised 13 STBms, but only about seven have set up plants of any description so far.

We have not seen any meaningful roll out of boxes; this is worrisome. We realise that we have a duty to encourage you. We also accept that we have to set out clear guidelines about analogue switch off in the various places where we have launched DSO, so you can plan your production appropriately. STBs manufacturing