THE people of Namatanai district will soon tune into National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) radio frequency when the Medium Wave transmitters will be installed later this month.
Namatanai for a very long time has been absent from radio coverage and for the first time again in 40 years Namatanai District Development Authority (NDDA) has come on board to partner with the National Broadcasting Corporation to erect a tower for radio coverage.
Member for Namatanai and Minister for Forests Walter Schnaubelt presented K300,000.00 to NBC Management for the setup of the tower and technical support as well. This funding is a commitment after Minister Schnaubelt who is also the chairman of the NDDA provided a technical proposal to improve the FM coverage in his electorate.
Minister Schnaubelt said within the next few weeks Namatanai would be able to listen to NBC Radio through its Medium Wave (MW) frequency.
He also added that by December this year the MW Frequency should cover all of Namatanai District from the south coast to the outer islands.
On receiving the payment, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Timothy Masiu lauded the NDDA for assisting the provincial radio to set a tower in their own electorate.
Minister Masiu in his speech said that this was a very exciting time since Minister Schnaubelt has seen information dissemination as an important approach for his people.
“I am happy and proud because the partnership between NBC and NDDA has now begun which has never been there before. The people of Namatanai have missed out big time in having to listen to their leaders in New Ireland Province and other parts of the country due to no coverage of radio frequency in the district.”
Minister Masiu said with the MoU and presentation of the payment, radio can be actively used to promote and highlight the national government’s development policies and initiatives in New Ireland Province and its two districts as well.
“The radio service will enable the people in the electorate to listen to their leader and what he is doing in the district.”
Minister Masiu reiterated that, since taking office in 2019 he has not stopped working to improve communication in the country.
He said, so far he had signed MoUs with provincial governments and had received support funding to improve the medium wave from the short wave which is not on sale anymore.
Minister Masiu’s primary obligation as the Minister for ICT is to enter into profound dialogue with all the provincial governments to share the daily operations of all provincial stations in the country.