NBC officially commissioned analog to digital transition

Governor of NCD Powes Parkop (Second-Left), Minister for ICT Timothy Masiu and Chinese PRC to PNG Charge D'Affairs Chen Jilian and board members of NBC during the official commissioning at NBC headquarters (NBC: Solomon Sumb)

The landscape of broadcasting in Papua New Guinea [PNG] shifted another level since 6pm yesterday evening when National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] of PNG transitioned into digital broadcasting.

Minister for ICT Timothy Masiu who officiated at the historical transition was grateful for the relationship between the PNG and Chinese government for successfully delivering the first phase of project.

Minister Masiu switched on the digital mode said national television service, transiting into a modern television service compatible to any other modern TV services in the world.

"The media landscape in Papua New Guinea will never be the same again.

"The people of Papua New Guinea deserve to, and rightly so, now have a wider variety of choice in accessing quality, high-definition television programs on the NBC, apart from the existing ones that our private TV services have," Masiu said.

Minister Masiu said the analog to digital, the A2D migration is a major ICT development project undertaken by this government under the leadership of Prime Minister Marape, in line with the International Telecommunication Union's resolution of 2006.

"This is to ensure that all countries must transition from analog to digital broadcasting, and NBC is on track here," Masiu said.

The project was funded by a concessional loan of $69 billion through the Exim Bank of China.

Masiu said the phase one of the project began in 2022, with the procurement of technical equipment, followed with the construction and installation at NBC headquarters of a new digital studio, with production and master control units, and the head and housing the multiplex systems, the call center, and the technical team.

"A custom made outside broadcast van, or the OB van, the huge unit you see parked alongside this stage area, was also built and delivered in August and September.

"The unit has a production control unit, 200 meter fiber cabling unit, six high definition camera units, and has satellite uplink capabilities.

The representative of the Chinese government were also greatly for the milestone NBC achieved and remain committed to work in the next phases.