BON challenges FG’s June digital switchover rollout, warns of legal, financial pitfalls
Barely a week after the federal government fixed June 17, 2026, for the nationwide rollout of Nigeria’s long-delayed Digital Switchover (DSO), a major dispute has erupted within the broadcasting industry, with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) warning that the planned launch could be legally flawed and financially burdensome for citizens.
Barely a week after the federal government fixed June 17, 2026, for the nationwide rollout of Nigeria’s long-delayed Digital Switchover (DSO), a major dispute has erupted within the broadcasting industry, with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) warning that the planned launch could be legally flawed and financially burdensome for citizens.
In a formal letter dated May 19, 2026, addressed to the director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, BON argued that the platform being prepared for commissioning does not qualify as a true digital switchover but rather amounts to a direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television distribution service.
The protest comes days after the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, alongside NBC officials, announced that the country was ready for the June 17 launch following an inspection of facilities at Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) in Abuja.
At the unveiling, officials said the new FreeTV platform would deliver more than 100 channels nationwide through satellite transmission, bypassing the regional infrastructure limitations that have hampered previous rollout attempts.
However, BON contends that the satellite-led approach departs fundamentally from the legal and technical framework governing Nigeria’s digital migration.
According to the broadcasters’ umbrella body, both the International Telecommunication Union’s GE06 Agreement and Nigeria’s 2012 Digital Switchover White Paper define digital migration as the transition from analogue terrestrial television to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), not satellite broadcasting.
BON executive secretary, Oluyemisi Bamgbose, stated in the correspondence that the current model risks undermining the legal basis of the migration process.
“The 2012 White Paper remains the only gazetted legal framework for DSO in Nigeria today,” the letter stated, arguing that the proposed platform represents a deviation from established policy.
Industry analysts note that a terrestrial switchover carries broader economic implications beyond improved television broadcasting. By migrating analogue television transmission from terrestrial frequencies to digital infrastructure, valuable spectrum in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands can be released for mobile broadband use.
This so-called “digital dividend” has long been viewed as a strategic revenue opportunity for government through spectrum licensing to telecom operators, while also expanding broadband penetration.
Critics argue that a satellite-driven model would leave those frequencies tied up, effectively delaying the economic benefits expected from the migration.
Beyond technical objections, BON also raised concerns over what it described as a potential regulatory conflict of interest.
Under the original DSO framework, the NBC serves as the industry regulator, while licensed signal distributors manage transmission infrastructure and broadcasters provide content.
BON alleged that the NBC’s current role in aggregating content for the rebranded FreeTV platform places the regulator in direct competition with the industry it oversees.
“This will create a conflict of interest contrary to the law that established it and the spirit of the 2012 White Paper,” Bamgbose said.
The broadcasters further argued that if the government intends to replace the terrestrial migration model with a satellite and over-the-top (OTT) broadcasting framework, such a shift must be preceded by formal stakeholder consultations and a new legally gazetted policy roadmap.
BON called for the immediate reconvening of all statutory stakeholders, including licensed signal distributors, set-top-box manufacturers, broadcasters, and the original DigiTeam implementation committee, to review the framework.
The group also questioned the affordability of the proposed platform for average Nigerians.
While government officials have described the new service as a “free TV” solution aimed at widening access, BON said the satellite-based model may impose significant hidden costs on consumers.
Unlike conventional DTT migration, which typically requires only a digital decoder connected to an existing rooftop or indoor antenna, DTH satellite access often requires a dedicated satellite dish, compatible decoder hardware, and professional installation.
BON urged the NBC to provide clarity on the actual consumer cost burden and explain how lower-income households are expected to afford the equipment.
The dispute adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to a project that has suffered repeated delays, policy reversals, and billions of naira in expenditure over nearly two decades.
Nigeria began its digital migration process in line with global broadcasting transition deadlines, but has struggled to achieve full implementation despite multiple pilot launches and revised timelines.
With less than a month to the proposed nationwide rollout, the escalating standoff between broadcasters and the regulator raises fresh questions about whether the latest DSO push can proceed without legal and industry consensus.
