FAQ - Frequently Asked Question(s)

1. What Is Digital Television?
  • Technological development has brought about new and more efficient ways of recording, storing and processing electrical signals, enabling digital, rather than analogue, transmission. Digital television results from the application of this concept to the transmission of television signals.
2. What is DTT?
  • Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is the broadcasting of the digital television signal over the radio spectrum.
3. How can I receive DTT?
  • Future transmission of Digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Ghana will be based on DVB-T technology and MPEG-4/H.264 video compression.

    Therefore, to receive DTT broadcasts, you should confirm, at a minimum, that the technical specifications(s) of your equipment meet two requirements:
    • It is compatible with the DVB-T standard;
    • It is capable of decoding MPEG-4/H.264 video.
    If your equipment does not fulfill these conditions, you may take one of two courses of action:
    • If you want to keep your current television set, you need to purchase an external device, usually a set-top-box connected between the aerial and the television set, meeting the two conditions above;
    • If you prefer to buy a new television set and not install this external device, you should acquire an integrated digital television set which is already capable of DVB-T reception and decoding MPEG-4/H.264 video.
    If you also receive other television services such as Pay TV Service on the DTT platform.
4. What are the benefits of DTT over current analogue terrestrial television?
  • DTT offers better picture and sound quality, provides space for the introduction of new channels and enables the provision of new services such as electronic programme guides (EPG), super-teletext, interactive services and high definition television.
5. Is access to DTT free?
  • At a minimum there is free access for the entire national population to the television channels currently broadcast using the terrestrial analogue system (GTV, Net 2, TV3, TV Africa, etc. on a national basis) and to a new channel, for which a public licensing tender will launch. However, you will need to have the appropriate equipment enabling digital terrestrial reception.
6. Will the entire population be able to receive DTT?
  • Yes. However, in certain areas, the operator authorised to provide the DTT service may provide the same services according to equivalent conditions but by alternative means - including satellite. Further information will be provided in good time with regard to the specific procedures and equipment which, as an alternative to terrestrial reception equipment, will enable access in such circumstances.
7. How can I find out if I already have a DTT signal where I live?
  • The authorised operator will provide this information to the general public.
8. If I do not have terrestrial DTT coverage where I live, who should I approach to gain access to this service?
  • In certain areas, the operator authorised to provide the DTT service (GBC) may provide the same services according to equivalent conditions but by alternative means - including satellite. Accordingly, you should first of all check with GBC whether terrestrial reception will be available in your area. If not, GBC is required in such circumstances to provide at least the same services as those provided in areas with terrestrial coverage, with equivalent levels of service and conditions of access for end-users.
9. As a subscription television customer (cable, satellite or other), can I also have access to DTT?
  • Anyone who has the subscription television services can still gain access to DTT, however, tsome FTA channels will continue to be available through the existing subscription television platform (cable, satellite or other). Even so, the entire national population can access DTT, provided the requirements listed in the answer to question 3 are met.
10. Do I need to change my television set to receive DTT?
  • You only need to change your television set if it does not have a SCART socket to connect a suitable decoder, because the availability of decoders with RF interfaces is less likely. Other television sets with this SCART socket will be able to access the DTT service, provided you purchase a decoder compatible with the DVB-T technology and the MPEG4/H.264 standard, to connect between each set and the respective aerial socket.

    Of course, if your television set has an integrated compatible decoder, you do not need to change it.
11. Where can I buy the equipment needed to receive DTT?
  • Equipment will be available from usual electronic equipment retail outlets and other authorised dealers.
12. Do I need to change my aerial (antenna), to receive DTT?
  • If you already have analogue terrestrial reception and have an aerial connected to your TV which receives UHF, this means that, in terms of your aerial (antenna), you will be able to access the DTT signal. In some locations, however, it may be necessary for aerials (antenna), to be re-pointed (see answer to question 15).

    If you do not have an aerial (antenna), installed for the reception of the current analogue service, you should install a UHF aerial (antenna), as well as the associated wiring, in your home.
13. If I live in a building with a shared aerial (antenna), what do I need to know, in terms of the aerial, so that I can receive DTT?
  • If you are not in an area where coverage of DTT allows portable indoor reception, you should try to ensure that your locality meets the two conditions given in the answer to question 12.
14. Where can I find someone to make the necessary changes to my installations?
  • You can find a list of ITED technicians on ANACOM's website.
15. Do I need to have my aerial re-pointed to receive DTT?
  • In part of the country the location of the DTT transmitters’ relays will be the same as those used for current analogue broadcasts, and so there is no need to re-point your aerial. However, in other cases it will be necessary to have aerials re-pointed.
16. Do I need a decoder to receive DTT?
  • If you have a standard television set (analogue) or an integrated digital television that is only compatible with the MPEG2 standard, and you want to keep your set, you will need to buy a decoder which is compatible with DVB-T technology and the MPEG4/H.264 standard, and preferably also capable of HD decoding, where you have or plan to have an HD television with the MPEG4/H.264 standard and also want to have access to high-definition broadcasts to be made available through DTT. It should be noted that decoders which are only SD do not allow access to HD broadcasts, one of the main advantages of DTT.
17. What types of decoders are there?
  • Basic decoder (Smart TV Box) is equipment that only allows the user to access the DTT service (free to air and pay channels, with additional functions. - Decoder that only provides access to services in standard definition, an additional pay service.
18. How do I connect the external decoder?
  • The external decoder is connected between the aerial socket and the socket on your television set. Therefore, you should disconnect the current aerial cable from your TV and connect it to the decoder. This, in turn, is connected to your television set. To make this connection, the decoder and your television set should have at least one SCART outlet (see Figure 1), to which a (SCART-SCART) cable which is suitable for both pieces of equipment can be connected.


    Figure 1

    If you have a TV and a decoder with an HDMI type socket (see Figure 2), we recommend using this type of connection for improved performance and quality.


    Figure 2
19. How do I tune DTT?
  • It depends on the type and brand of decoder or integrated television set acquired, but all have an instruction manual describing this procedure.
20. If I have more than one television set, can I receive DTT on the other television sets in my house?
  • If you want to watch each non-integrated television set independently, you will need to purchase a separate decoder for each one.
21. Can I continue using my DVD player and/or recorder and video recorder (VCR)?
  • Yes. Usually, DTT decoders have another SCART output that can be connected to a VCR/DVD recorder for recording content. Additionally, some of the decoders come with hard disks for the same purpose.
22. What do I need to receive DTT broadcasts in high definition?
  • Besides the requirements mentioned in the answer to question 16:
    • Your television set should have a minimum vertical resolution of 720 lines (720p), available in equipment marked “HD ready”, and, being an integrated digital TV, it should be capable of decoding high definition video content; the designation “Full HD” refers to television sets with higher vertical resolution, 1080 lines (1080p);
    • The decoder has an HDMI interface (preferably version 1.3 or later) and is capable of decoding video content in high definition - such equipment is usually identified by an “HD TV” symbol.
23. Will current programming remain available with DTT?
  • Yes. The television channels currently provided over the analogue terrestrial network, i.e. GTV, TV3, TV Africa, Net 2, etc will continue to be available.
24. What programming does DTT offer?
  • In addition to availability in standard definition, but with better picture and sound quality, of the current national and 2 regional (in the Autonomous Regions) channels, DTT makes it possible to provide reception of a new 5th channel.
25. Will programme schedule information be provided?
  • Yes. This is one of the added benefits on the DTT. It allows information to be provided to users on programmes in the form of an electronic programming guide (EPG), which can also provide access to other information, and in a format that is more visually attractive than the existing teletext system.
26. What is the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television, commonly known as the switchover?
  • The switchover is the process of replacing current analogue television broadcasting with digital terrestrial broadcasting, while at the same time providing more and better television services to users and more efficient use of the radio spectrum, a scarce public resource. This process began in Europe during the late 1990s.
27. What happens during the period of simultaneous analogue and digital terrestrial broadcasting, commonly known as simulcast?
  • This is a period during which the population will be prepared for the definitive transition and during which transmissions of analogue and digital television will coexist, meaning that users will still be able to receive terrestrial TV through their existing equipment, but may also receive the new digital broadcasts, if they have equipment for this purpose. In Ghana it is being stipulated that this period will be not less than 12 months in each area concerned, i.e. once digital broadcasting is begun in your area of residence, analogue broadcasting will remain available simultaneously for a minimum period of 12 months.
28. When will current analogue terrestrial television broadcasting finally stop, commonly known as the switch-off?
  • Current analogue terrestrial television broadcasting throughout the country will be stopped by 2012 or 2015, which means that this is the deadline in the last areas where this broadcasting is switched off. However, in some areas of the country this may happen earlier, on a date which will be announced in good time. In this respect, see also the answer to question 29.
29. Will the transition and the consequent switch-off of current analogue terrestrial television broadcasts occur simultaneously in all parts of the country?
  • Transition is expected to take place in a phased manner across the national territory. It will always be ensured that analogue and digital broadcasting will co-exist for a minimum of 12 months in the area of each analogue transmitter/relay. Meanwhile, NCA/GBC/MINISTRY OF INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION will publish the deactivation date of each analogue transmitter/relay at least three months in advance, in accordance with the requirements set out by NCA
30. From when will I need to be able to receive DTT?
  • Although you can feasibly watch TV until the deactivation of the analogue transmitter/relay in your area (See also question 33), it is advisable to prepare installation in advance (and of different television sets) in order to receive DTT, so that you can start benefiting from the advantages of digital television and avoid any last minute difficulties.
31. Do I have to receive DTT?
  • No. However, after the terrestrial television service is no longer available via analogue in your area of residence, you will only be able to get terrestrial television if you have access to DTT equipment.
32. What will happen after the switch-off of analogue terrestrial television broadcasting?
  • You will only be able to access terrestrial television services if you have equipment that provides access to DTT. Alternatively or in addition to free access to DTT, you may opt for a subscription television service based on the commercial offerings available for that purpose.
33. Is Ghana the only country to make this transition?
  • No. This is a general move being made in virtually every part of the world, given the benefits of transition. Specifically, in Ghana it is stipulated that this process should be concluded by 2012.
34. Why should I pay for a transition that has been imposed on me?
  • Access to the service itself remains free, not requiring any type of subscription. You only need to purchase equipment - which may be a simple decoder to connect to your current TV, while most aerials can still be used - so that you can start receiving an improved service through DTT. This a process which naturally takes place when there is a substantial technological change, as in the 80s when black and white televisions were replaced by colour televisions, while in the future it is envisaged that all standard definition television sets will be replaced by high-definition televisions.
35. What is the Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group?
  • The Digital Television Migration Group established by a collaboration among GBC, TV3, TV Africa, Net2 and NGB brings together the efforts of those most directly involved in the analogue-digital transition. This Group is made up of representatives from the DTT network operator, TV operators, operators of other TV platforms, while other entities may be involved, depending on the issues at hand. Thos group is charged with promoting the implementation of the conditions needed to ensure the analogue-digital transition, including its supervision and with making recommendations to stakeholders.




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