CCNL, SES to provide Nigeria with digital TV platform

Cable Channels Nigeria Ltd. (CCNL) recently entered into a deal with satellite operator SES to provide the country with a satellite TV platform.

Under the multi-year agreement, SES will help advance the Nigeria Digital Switchover (DSO) process by aggregating channels onto a land-based Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) network and Direct to Home (DTH) broadcast platform.

"SES is proud to be CCNL’s partner of choice and at the forefront of the DSO process of the most populous nation in Africa," Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, senior vice president of SES Commercial in Africa, said. "The service will provide 100 percent coverage for Nigeria DSO through DTT and DTH and gives viewers the opportunity to receive high quality TV throughout the country, regardless of their location. It will also give them access to multiple local, regional and national channels."

SES will use teleport services by its local partner Computer Warehouse Group to obtain channels throughout Nigeria. Channels will be gathered through microwave, fiber or satellite.

"This agreement with SES will have a massive impact on consumers as we move towards the Nigeria DSO process," CCNL Vice Chairman Mohammed Bawa said. "It moves over 25 million households from three to four analogue channels to 15 channels at launch, increasing to at least 30 channels in digital quality picture and sound."