The Japanese government has committed around US$10 million to support Angola’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) initiative, facilitating the country’s transition from analogue television to modern broadcasting systems. This investment is focused on upgrading the terrestrial transmission infrastructure and equipment across several key locations.
Hiroaki Sano, the Japanese ambassador to Angola, and José da Silva, the director of the International Cooperation Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed an agreement earlier this week to launch this DTT Broadcasting Network Development Project.
As many African nations grapple with the transition from analogue to DTT, Angola’s efforts are particularly pressing. While some progress has been made, numerous countries are struggling to meet deadlines set by the International Telecommunications Union, including the missed target of June 17, 2015.
Japanese authorities consider this transition urgent, considering Angola’s vulnerability to natural disasters. Effective emergency alert broadcasting systems are critical to improving the communication of meteorological information and disaster prevention strategies.
The project will involve installing and upgrading DTT infrastructure and equipment at the Viana and Palácio da Justiça transmitter stations in Luanda province and the Sombreiro station in Benguela city. The Japan International Cooperation Agency will carry out the project with the Angolan Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Mass Communications.
Angola’s television broadcasting is largely in analogue format and primarily conducted in Portuguese. However, around 70% of the population speaks various national languages, which creates a strong demand for subtitling and multilingual broadcasting—features that align with Japanese DTT standards, as highlighted by the Japanese Embassy.
