Luanda: The Secretary of State for Social Communication, Nuno Caldas, reaffirmed on Friday the Angolan government's commitment to the right to information for citizens. This affirmation was made during a plenary meeting of the National Assembly, where deputies discussed and approved the Donation Agreement signed between Angola and Japan, aimed at enhancing the Terrestrial Digital Television Transmission Network Development Project. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Secretary of State highlighted that the current terrestrial digital television coverage in Angola stands at approximately 62%. This achievement is part of the ongoing transition from analog to digital broadcasting systems. Caldas elaborated that the newly approved donation will be pivotal in expanding the necessary infrastructure to ensure television services reach all Angolan citizens. Caldas further explained that the Terrestrial Digital Television Transmission Network Development Project, which was signed in August 2025, will adhere t o specific regulations, particularly concerning open television signals and the Press Law. The initial phase of the project is set to benefit the provinces of Luanda and Benguela. He also noted that the journey towards digital terrestrial television in Angola began 18 years ago, following a directive from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for African countries to adopt the system, with Angola's pilot program launching in 2009 for Luanda and Malanje provinces. To support this transition, training for Angolan technicians is currently underway. In addition to television infrastructure, Caldas addressed the pressing issue of cybersecurity, referencing a recent cyberattack on UNITEL. He emphasized the vulnerability of institutions in an increasingly digital world, citing that the National Bank of Angola experiences over a thousand cyberattacks daily, while the National Assembly faces between 200 and 500 attacks along with commercial banks. In response, the government has invested in bolstering Angol a's technological infrastructure, focusing on initiatives like Cloud Angola, the Data Center, and the .AO domain to ensure digital sovereignty.
