Between Analog and Digital Broadcasting

BETWEEN ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL BROADCASTING

       The campaign regarding global migration from analogue to digital broadcasting commenced on June 17, 2006. Nigeria signed regional and international agreement to conclude the digital migration by June 17, 2012. In a bid to meet up the deadline, in 2008, the Federal Government (FG) set up a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC). The following year, the committee submitted its report but the FG failed to implement it, causing Nigeria to miss the June 2012 deadline. The migration deadline was shifted to June 17, 2015. Though the ‘Digi-team’ inaugurated by the FG alongside the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) made a frantic effort to fulfill the mandate, the efforts again didn’t yield any result owing to paucity of funds.

        Now, Nigeria is targeting June 17, 2017 as the new deadline for the long-awaited transition. Having missed the switchover deadline twice, Nigerians are sceptical about the country’s chances of meeting the new date. It has become obvious that for Nigeria to actualize the feat, there’s need to comprehend the inevitable attributes of digital broadcasting, and the dangers inherent in the ongoing analogue pattern.

        Analogue mode of transmission is an unreliable system, though it has worked well enough for over half a century. Analogue TV transmits programming in a continuous signal. The signal varies in amplitude, depending on the information contained in the audio or picture. It is transmitted on a particular radio frequency from the TV station’s transmitting antenna over the air, to the viewer’s TV set. Each TV station is assigned a particular frequency that corresponds to its channel number. So, when a viewer tunes his/her TV to a given channel, s/he has actually chosen to receive transmissions on that certain frequency.

        It’s noteworthy that TV frequencies are calibrated in megahertz (MHz). There are two major transmission frequency bands, namely: Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF). VHF channels 2 to 6 operate in the frequency range between 54 and 88MHz. VHF channels 7 to 13 operate in the frequency range between 174 and 216MHz. And UHF channels 14 to 83 operate in the frequency range between 470 and 890MHz.

       The aforementioned analog signal is far from perfect. It does not usually reproduce the exact original programming. It can easily deteriorate over long distances. It can equally suffer interference from other sources, thereby producing ghost images, static, and ‘snow’. Hence, analog transmissions typically produce a lower-quality visual output than the original. The picture is not quite as sharp – the background is sometimes grainy, and the sound suffers from noise and reduced frequency response.

        A situation where the viewer tries to receive signal from a distant station, is even more unbearable. The farther the station, the worse the picture, likewise the sound. The results are also poor if the viewer is located in a big city with lots of buildings that bounce the signal around. Among all, analogue transmission is inefficient; each VHF or UHF channel takes up a lot of valuable bandwidths.

       Unlike analogue transmission that is prone to fading, digital technology reproduces a reliable crystal-clear picture without any form of interference. Digital tech equally enables TV stations to broadcast multiple channels with different programming. It can fit four or more channels into a single analogue channel; hence, it can accommodate as many wavebands as possible within the existing spectrum. It makes the work easier, improves the professionalism, viewers’ delight, and creates more job opportunities, as well as uplifts income for both the broadcasters and the government. Above all, it would enable more prospective broadcasting firms in Nigeria to be licensed by the NBC.

         To this end, Nigeria needs to hasten up towards meeting the June 2017 deadline. It’s no longer about setting up a team; rather, it is about bracing up to the reality, which is to apply a pragmatic approach instead of the continued indulgence in theory. Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcasting (DTMB), to be utilized by Nigeria, adopts time-domain synchronous Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation technology, with a pseudo-random signal frame to serve as the Guard Interval (GI) of the OFDM block and the training symbol. Its content is viable and reliable, thus worthy of emulation.

       The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has a very vital role to play. First, they must acknowledge what they stand to gain. Broadcasting involves generation, transmission and distribution, and it is the duty of the various broadcasting stations to provide the required equipment for the first two phases such as digital transmitter and computers. The government is to provide the instruments for the distribution phase such as ITS and pinnacle. So, BON must conscientize their members to do the needful.

        Towards sustaining the feat, if actualized, the FG needs to create stiff regulations. The NBC would be expected to be more proactive, and endeavour to create the needed awareness. The broadcasting firms need to deploy standard maintenance and anti-hacking softwares, as well as engage reliable tech experts in their daily activities, either as consultants or employees. The overall project is capital-intensive, so there is need for adequate collaboration both on the part of the government and the broadcasting stations. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

  Follow: @mediambassador        

                   

Incessant Building Collapse: Whither Nigeria's Tech?

INCESSANT BUILDING COLLAPSE: WHITHER NIGERIA’S TECH?

        Building collapse has obviously been a thing of tremendous worry in the contemporary Nigerian society, over the last decade. The aberration, which have claimed hundreds of innocent souls, maimed thousands as well as rendered scores of families homeless, has caused a colossal harm to not just the engineering-technology sector but Nigeria at large.

        Statistics indicate that within the aforementioned period, over thirty buildings situated across the country have collapsed unannounced. In March 2006, the top nine floors of a 21-storey building belonging to the Bank of Industry, located on the famous Broad Street – Lagos Island in Lagos State, caved in, killing two and injuring twenty-three others. In August 2010, a 4-storey uncompleted building at Ikoli Street in Garki, Abuja brings the Federal Capital Territory’s name into the list, thus claimed not fewer than twenty-one lives and endangered nine. Just to mention but a few. Though building collapse is not peculiar to Nigeria, its recent alarming rate calls for an urgent attention.

        First, we need to comprehend the rudimentary factors that constitute the societal menace. Building collapse is mainly attributed to substandard products, quackery, mediocrity, cheating, and/or soil texture cum topography, coupled with other environmental factors. The dangers inherent in the use of substandard building materials cannot be overemphasized. These materials such as brick blocks, cement, sand, and rods, are not in any way meant to be used in constructing a boys’ quarter let alone deploying their services in storey building constructions.

        Regarding blocks, it’s either the cements used in the moulding weren’t good enough, or that the sand utilized was nothing to write home about. There are specified sands meant for moulding, but most block industries don’t bother going for them, probably owing to the cost of conveying it to the moulding site. This aspect of cheating is very common. Since people, especially those residing in cities are often in a hurry, they are invariably left with no option than to patronize commercial blocks.

        Another one is quackery and mediocrity. It’s worth noting, perhaps shocking, that most of those who claim to be structural engineers, architects, or what have you, never attended any engineering or architectural class even for a day, let alone becoming professionals. They are just mere quacks parading themselves as chartered technologists. Pathetically, some of them who had the privilege to pass through a higher institution didn’t obtain the required training or expertise, thereby constituting structural defects when contracted to handle a building project.

        A sound and qualified contractor is expected to thoroughly inspect the site for the proposed building, adequately advise the prospective landlord, tactically implement the project, complete it within a stipulated period, as well as know what to do while converting a mere bungalow to a storey building. When any of these professional functions is missing, it becomes a burden to the building in question.

       Away from substandard products and quackery, soil texture or topography, as the case may be, has equally been a thing of great concern while discussing building collapse. Houses are usually built on swampy sites in reverie areas like Lagos and Port-Harcourt, without carrying out the required preliminary design, thus leading to collapse in the nearest future. Such land is not strong – they are sandy or loose, and contractors build on them using templates that are meant for better compacted lands. Sometimes the contractor would know what to do but rather than doing the needful, he would be only interested in his money or what he stands to gain as long as the contract lasts; this aspect of cheating or insincerity is currently on the rampage.

        The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) must take a drastic and severe step towards ensuring that substandard materials are no longer smuggled into the country. They should also, properly regulate the locally made ones.  On the other hand, relevant professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), should employ a stiff measure toward addressing the crisis. When any building is under construction, they should endeavour to ascertain the contractor handling the project to ensure his credibility. And, if a building falls, they must ascertain the root causes of the collapse, and not hesitate to issue the apt sanction to the affected contractor if found guilty. They should also go beyond sanctioning; any culpable individual ought to be arraigned, so that, he will face the wrath of the law.

        Intending landlords are equally advised to consult aptly whenever they intend to erect a building. Don’t just jump to any so-called contractor you find on your way; and if you succeed in contracting any, endeavour to confirm his/her authenticity by visiting/consulting the relevant quarters. Qualified structural contractors, on their part, should feel free to consult their colleagues for any professional assistance whenever the need arises. And, they ought to always be research-oriented.

        Every structural professional must note that foundations and pillars remain basic factors that determine the validity or wellbeing of any building, thus should be taken very seriously. Think about it!      

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

  Follow: @mediambassador        

Ndi Imo, Let's Forge Ahead!

NDI IMO, LET’S FORGE AHEAD!

        The last time I checked, Imo remained a specially and beautifully made state, that, everyone could testify to it. The fact, not assertion, is conspicuous, thus does not need to be refuted by anyone who truly comprehends what the state is made of. It has no doubt been a state to reckon with since its creation, and continued to thrive relentlessly to be the best among equals.

         Several factors make Imo a great and unique state amongst others. While discussing education, it would invariably be at the forefront; it is the only state in Nigeria that has, for the umpteenth time, recorded the highest number of candidates in external examinations such as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

         Imo has obviously produced countless great men and women, and still producing more. Even a-day-old child in the state appears great. This is the reason anyone who leads the ancient province needn’t be told to be extremely careful and cautious of every step he takes at all times. On the other hand, there is far possibility of having a great man as the state’s governor at all times; and ab inito great men have really been leading the state, to the best of my knowledge.

        Owing to the exemplary idiosyncrasies of the Eastern Heartland, any person known to be its governor stands the chances of emerging as one of the most, if not the most, famous governor across the country. Going down the memory lane till date, you may want to concur with my theory. The truth is, Imo is synonymous with greatness, thus any individual who is a member or an affiliate of the state, is liable to have greatness attached to his/her person.

         Let’s I digress, it’s time I became succinct. Since I found myself in the public domain as an analyst cum activist, I have relentlessly tried to use both my pen and tongue, as the case may be, to let people comprehend that whenever I write or say anything pertaining to the state, I invariably take my precious time to carry out the assignment towards ensuring that I wouldn’t end up causing more harm than good. I do this because I’m aware, as a state made up of great people, a little lapse in any analysis would be misinterpreted. Hence, I often take my time before I write on anything; I don’t write because others are writing, neither do I talk because others are talking.

        Few weeks ago while I was away in Minna, the Niger State capital, someone called from the state, as usual, to give me the latest. Whilst on the phone, he told me that the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha had instructed that every taxable adult in each community in the state ought to henceforth be paying three thousand naira (#3,000) to the state’s coffer as development levy. According to the governor, the tax would help in development thrive in the existing 637 autonomous communities in the state. Before he could finish, I told him that a fellow had already called from West Germany, Europe to intimate me on the news. He was deeply surprised that the news had already gone viral within that shortest interval.

        Penultimate week on this column, I did a work on diabetes in respect of the just commemorated World Diabetes Day. Consequently, most people who called to react to the column unequivocally told me that, though my topic for the week was fantastic, they were expecting I would do something on the proposed #3000 levy. According to them, I’m good in writing issues on matters arising from current political affairs, thus didn’t see reason I refused to maintain the tempo.

         I knew they were all sounding selfish. Because if they were not, there was no how they wouldn’t comprehend that the topic that surfaced in the last edition was far more important than a mere proposal to pay #3000 as a ‘development’ levy, which I have already described as laughable. Again, they were so impatient to realize that there was still enormous time to write on the subject matter in question, if truly I had a plan to do so.

        There was something I couldn’t tell them on phone, and I want to drop the message here. I have learnt to overlook some of the things coming from the state’s number one citizen ever since I observed that he enjoys adding humour to leadership, which to me, isn’t a bad idea or lifestyle. I’ve painstakingly understood that Governor Okorocha is humorous in nature, thus he often like to employ his sense of humour in whatever he does. He doesn’t really mean everything he says. Honestly. I enjoy his presence as well as speeches owing to this very quality possessed by him. He’s indeed a rare personality.

        If you don’t understand the governor, you would continue to have problem with him and his leadership style. That is why it is believed that, understanding is the major factor that can sustain any relationship irrespective of its type. If you are dealing with someone, endeavour to understand his/her real person; if you do, I bet you, you would hardly have issues with him/her. As a result of Gov. Okorocha’s humorous attribute, sometimes he sounds controversial, even when he doesn’t mean to create any controversy.

        Since I understood his person, unlike those days when I was yet to know him, I have decided to overlook some of his comments, so that, I wouldn’t end up constituting more trouble in the name of trying to let the governor see reason he should have a rethink on whatever unbearable issue he had raised. I’m equally appealing to Imolites to borrow a leaf from my person, so that, they wouldn’t suffer from hypertension. Rather than letting some of his policies affect your emotions negatively, try to laugh over it – just for your own good. The governor seems to mean well for the state, but due to misunderstanding, most of his moves are usually misinterpreted by his subjects.

         I would only advise the governor to know when to crack joke, and when not. Cracking such expensive joke amidst a recessionary era appears to be an act of insensitivity. You wouldn’t expect me to start advising the amiable governor to drop the idea of collecting #3000 from every taxable adult in the state, because to me, such agitation shouldn’t even be listened to let alone discussing it. Think about it!  

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador