Broadcasting Initiative
Expanding Broadcasting Services with the UAS Fund
Broadcasting services via television and radio remain a priority for UAS Fund support, as they are crucial for increasing access to information for the public. This initiative aims to expand free-to-air/view broadcasting network coverage, particularly in rural areas, while also promoting local media content relevant to PNG’s social and economic development.
Our Targets and Priorities
Specific Targets
- Radio: By 2027, 100% of the population will be within reach of radio broadcasting signals, especially for emergency communications.
- Television: By 2027, all district capitals and at least one LLG in every district will have free-to-air TV services available.
NICTA will work to create a favorable regulatory environment, including efficient use of resources like spectrum and infrastructure-sharing mechanisms, to help minimize service expansion costs. The increase in broadband penetration will also provide a useful platform for the broadcast industry to capitalize on IP TV/radio.
Our Twofold Strategy
The broadcasting initiative will be implemented through two key programs:
Radio Broadcasting
Television Broadcasting
Radio Broadcasting
This program will support projects to expand radio broadcasting service to rural areas currently uncovered by radio broadcasting signals. The program will also support radio broadcast operators’ preparatory and migration exercises from analogue to digital radio broadcasting.
Radio Broadcasting Projects
This program will support projects to expand radio broadcasting services to rural areas that are currently not covered by radio signals. It will also assist radio broadcast operators with their transition from analog to digital radio broadcasting.
- Radio Broadcasting Projects: These projects will target provinces, districts, LLGs, or towns that have no radio broadcasting services. The specific locations and scope of projects will be finalized annually by NICTA and the UAS Board in consultation with relevant stakeholders before receiving approval from the ICT Minister for implementation. The proposed locations for this planning period are summarized in the table below.
Table 4: Distribution of proposed locations for radio projects.
| Year of Implementation | Year1- 2023 | Year2- 2024 | Year3- 2025 | Year4- 2026 | Year5- 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project locations | Tari | Kavieng | Kiunga | Kainantu | Arawa | |
| Western | Hela | Chimbu | West New Britain | Jiwaka | ||
| Northern | Enga | West Sepik | AROB | Manus |
Television Broadcasting
In addition to expanding current analog TV broadcasting to unserved areas, projects for television broadcasting will also focus on the migration from analog to digital television broadcasting (A2D).
Television Broadcasting Projects
These projects will prioritize provincial centers that do not have any free-to-air local TV services. Support for TV service expansion to rural areas and districts will coincide with the network rollout plans of operators. The specific locations and scope of projects will be finalized annually by NICTA and the UAS Board in consultation with relevant stakeholders before receiving approval from the ICT Minister for implementation. The proposed projects and their distribution are summarized in the table below.
Table 4: Distribution of proposed locations for television projects.
| Year of implementation | Year1- 2023 | Year2- 2024 | Year3- 2025 | Year4- 2026 | Year5- 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project locations | Lae | Kimbe | Milne Bay | West Sepik | Southern Highlands | |
| Hagen | AROB | Madang | Western | Gulf | ||
| Kokopo | Manus | Wewak | Hela | Kainantu |