TRIAL PHASE OF THE DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING
Source: ministry_of_communications_ghana

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITALISATION, MRS. URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, MP, AT THE L A U N C H O F T H E T R I A L P H A S E O F T H E D I G I TA L A U D I O BROADCASTING (22ND AUGUST, 2023) AT THE NCA TOWER, AIRPORT CITY, ACCRA. The Minister for Information, and Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebe, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Members of Parliament Chairman and Members of the of the NCA Board Director General, Management and Staff of the NCA, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, Project Director, World DAB, Madam Bernie O’Neill Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation The Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, Throughout the years, Ghana’s unwavering commitment to embracing digital innovation has propelled us to the forefront of digital transformation on the continent and our Government, through its Digital Ghana Agenda launched in 2017, has instituted projects and programmes geared towards bridging the digital divide, and ensuring digital inclusion for all sectors of the economy. We in the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) have been focused on crafting and shaping policies that not only facilitate the creation of information and communications infrastructure, but also drive the development of services that foster economic competitiveness. We continue to implement innovative digital infrastructural | Page 1 and skills development projects such as the Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project and the Girls in ICT initiative to make ICT accessible to all Ghanaians and demystify it, encouraging and empowering young girls and women to pursue careers in the ICT sector. We are building the foundations of our digital economy and working steadily to transform our economy through technology. We are committed to empowering all agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to adapt to the ever-evolving technological landscape by adopting innovative strategies and approaches to their work and I am proud of their continuing efforts to deliver innovative and cutting-edge solutions. The National Communications Authority (NCA) is today launching the trial of yet another service, Digital Audio Broadcasting, in addition to its ground breaking media monitoring lab, the Common Platform, CERT, among many other innovations introduced in the past 6 years. These have all been focused on meeting the needs of the industry and ultimately, benefiting the consumer. With the rapid development of the radio and TV industry and its convergence with telecommunications, it has become necessary to ensure the quality of broadcasting services do not deteriorate. Statistics indicate that as at the end of 2022, the NCA had authorised 707 Frequency Modulation (FM) Stations out of which 513 were in operation. Clearly, this proves that Radio Broadcasting still reigns supreme over other forms of mass media communications as it remains a pivotal source of information and entertainment for both urban and rural communities. In terms of value, according to the Digital Journal, the global Digital Radio Broadcasting market was valued at USD 3,710.13 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a growth rate of 11.01%, reaching USD 6,943.24 million by 2027. This | Page 2 provides an opportunity for Ghana to tap into this revenue stream to expand revenues for both the government and private sector. As we stride into the future, the advent of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) marks a significant milestone in radio broadcasting. With its ability to harness digital signals, DAB ushers in a new era of enhanced sound quality, an expanded array of station choices, and interactive features that redefine listener experience. This technology transcends the limitations of traditional analogue FM Radio, promising a transformational and captivating auditory journey for all listeners. What is more interesting about the DAB is the fact that it addresses frequency constraints by expanding coverage as well as promoting efficient spectrum utilisation. As we launch the DAB trial in Accra and Kumasi, I recommend that you try it if you happen to find yourself in the aforementioned towns. I congratulate the team at NCA and their service providers for putting in the work and ensuring that ghana continues to blaze the trail in the telecommunication sector for our peers to emulate. I encourage NCA to work speedily in the roll out of their interventions, as this is a fast changing industry and the NCA needs to be agile to respond quickly to the changing needs of the sector and tastes of the consumer. I also commend the 18 FM stations for availing their stations for this trial, and though many more stations would have liked to be part of this pilot, you were carefully selected based on your diversity of programming content and audience reach. Ghana is introducing the latest version of DAB, known as DAB+ and this progressive step places us at the forefront of innovation, positioning us as the first nation in West Africa and the fourth in the entire continent to deploy DAB+. This achievement | Page 3 underscores our commitment to not only staying abreast of technological advancements but also leading the charge in shaping the future of digital broadcasting across Africa. Together, we shall continue to innovate, elevate our digital landscape, foster growth, empowerment, and prosperity for all and provide boundless opportunities for our young people. It is indeed DIGITIME in Ghana and I am delighted to declare the first ever trial of Digital Audio Broadcasting in West Africa, duly launched! Thank you | Page 4