MTN Nigeria has concluded plans to play in Nigeria’s cable TV market using its 700MHz frequency licence acquired from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for N34 billion last year.
The launch of its digital pay TV broadcasting services will deepen the competition between the existing cable networks in the country. In September 2015, the NBC confirmed that it had approved for MTN part of the country’s 700MHz broadcasting spectrum solely for the purpose of providing digital pay-TV broadcasting services
It should be recalled that MTN recently increased its CAPEX in Nigeria to $1 billion from $700 million, saying the company was spending to expand and improve on other services including broadband, music services and now digital broadcasting, reducing its reliance on voice.
The company in a statement made available to said it would launch the pilot of its digital TV broadcasting service in Jos, Plateau State, today – May 26, 2016.
Ferdi Moolman, CEO, MTN Nigeria, said: “MTN is committed to providing Nigerians with innovative digital platforms which will enhance the way we live, work and play.
“Once we commence full commercial activities, the TV service will deliver an exciting bouquet of rich local and international content to Nigerians. In addition, subscribers will have the freedom to watch their favourite programmes when they choose to via MTN VOD service, rather than having to watch at a specific broadcast time.
“This will be the first fully converged broadcast and OTT-VOD service to launch in MTN.”
Analysts say the launch of MTN TV is another bold demonstration of MTN’s abiding faith in the future of Nigeria, driving growth and development by enabling Nigerians keep pace with the latest global trends and converged solutions.
Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said: “MTN have done pretty well in content provision in terms of music and other services provided, so it is expected that they will keep up the tradition with digital broadcasting.”
Elaborating further, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN Nigeria Executive, said; “MTN’s vision is to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world. We are committed to exploring opportunities and avenues to expand our digital footprint and value offering to our customers. We are therefore constantly seeking appropriate channels to place the latest technologies and services in the hands of Nigerians, and this is one of such.”
Nigerians expect to see significant reduction in price, more quality content and value for service amongst the likes of Startimes, DSTV, GoTV, Consat and other paid digital television services now that MTN has come in as the newest player in Nigeria’s cable TV market.
