By Patrick Biddah
The Minister for Communication, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, working with the National Communication Authority ( NCA) seem to have found a solution to the growing challenges of frequency constraint of radio.
This is as a result of the launch of the Digital Audio Broadcasting system which is to ease up the congestion and to allow for more space to radio transmission.
With this launch, consumers are able to access radio broadcast using their receivers which will give no interferences.
In her speech to launch the DAB in Accra on 22nd August , 2023 ,Mrs. Owusu Ekuful ,said Ghana is seeking to tap into revenue streams which are being generated as a result of the use of the Digital Audio Broadcasting.
“As a Ministry, we have been focused on driving innovative policies to chart a path for a revolution in the digital space “, she noted.
According to the Minister, her Ministry is bent on shaping the broadcasting revolution and it tends to do that by ensuring the quality of radio broadcast.
With this initial launch, Ghana becomes the first country in West Africa and the fourth in Africa to deploy the Digital Audio Broadcasting.
So far, 18 radio stations in Ghana are being used for the audio channels trial.
They are Uniiq , Asempa, Citi , Hot, Peace , Starr, Asaase Radio, Atlantis, Class , Oman and Radio Universe, which are all in Accra .
The rest of the seven , which are Angel , Kessben, Opemsuo, Sompa, Focus , Orange and Wontumi FM are all in the Ashanti regional capital of Kumasi.
All of these stations, henceforth will benefit from reaching more audience by getting this digital audience.
Speaking also at the launch was the Director General of the National Communication Authority ( NCA) , Mr Joe Anokye, who indicated that with the unavailability of spectrum , there was the need to address the incessant demand for FM frequency.
“ By leveraging technology, we embarked on a study to identify the conditions under which we can assign the first adjacent channel without interference to the existing stations “, he explained.
The demands, he further pointed out was to extend coverage which brought about the need for the DAB.
“ DAB provides good quality audio, supports the provision of value-added services and spectrum efficiency. For example, in this trial, up to 18 existing FM stations in Accra and Kumasi will share one frequency channel out of VHF BAND III( I3 174 – 230MHZ) and a transmitter in Kumasi and Accra”, he noted.
In all of these, a listener will need a radio or receiver that is DAB compliant in order to broadcast.
In view of replicating the use of the DAB , Mr Anokye revealed that the NCA is in discussion with electronics appliances importers to focused on DAB importation.
