News

High-Level Delegation Explores Digital Radio Solutions in Nigeria

April 28, 2026

A high-level delegation from Nigeria, including representatives from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and Ecalpemos Technologies, recently visited Cestron International in Teltow, Germany.

The event was organized by Cestron International and jointly conducted with DRM members Fraunhofer IIS and RFmondial.

During the visit, the Nigerian delegation provided an overview of the current broadcasting landscape in Nigeria. The DRM members then presented the global state of DRM, its applications – such as Emergency Warning Functionality and Distance Learning – and its advantages, including improved efficiency, cost savings, digital audio quality, and services like Station Logos, SlideShow, and Journaline for news, information, entertainment, audience targeting, interaction, and analytics. They also gave an overview of relevant products such as transmitters, DRM ContentServer, monitoring solutions, and the state of DRM receiver technology, as well as opportunities for the local broadcasting industry and economy.

The discussions confirmed that broadcasting remains a relevant medium, with digitization identified as essential to maintaining its appeal. DRM is the only digital radio technology able to provide local, regional as well as full country and international coverage Nigeria is engaged in.

Looking ahead, the Nigerian delegation and DRM members agreed to explore local demonstrations of DRM in Nigeria as soon as possible. Potential use cases include international shortwave broadcasting (VON), domestic services in the Medium Wave band, and VHF band applications.

Participants of the Nigerian Delegation and Host Cestron International with DRM Members RFmondial and Fraunhofer IIS

For more information on DRM and its applications, visit the DRM Consortium website.

For more information about CESTRON’s solution and capabilities, please visit www.cestron.de.

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WBCQ- Rotatable Shortwave Antenna

June 1, 2023

After final mechanical and electrical adjustments have been completed by CESTRON International GmbH (Germany) supported by WBCQ (USA) staff members by end of 2022, the entire rotatable short wave antenna system now achieved full operational capabilities. Within this context special credit is owed to Lance Cook (WBCQ Project Manager), Winfried Zimmer (Cestron Project Manager), Norbert Stangl (Cestron Chief Test Engineer), Stefan & Gion (Ampegon Software Engineers), Zvonko Radanovic (Tower Supervisor), Chris Lawless (CEC Field Engineer), NDC Communications and Tower Crew.

The rotatable antenna of type AHR 4/4/0.5 has been originally delivered by the former company Ampegon AG Switzerland to World Last Chance (WLC), Egypt to be operated by WBCQ Monticello, Maine (USA). The said system was the first rotatable shortwave high-power array antenna on the North American continent and designed for the transmission of shortwave signals of up to 500 kW.

The antenna is transmitting on 9,330 kHz with 150 kW transmission power. The programs are broadcasted in various languages for target areas in North-, South-, Central America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Reception reports issued by auditors from these parts of the world have proven the antenna’s performance (refer to www.worldslastchance.com/wlc-radio/reception-reports for further details). The high-power antenna offers different radiation patterns, an antenna gain of up to 23 dB and uses a technology characterized by a single-shaft structural design.

A tubular shaft with a diameter of four meters acts as a rotatable and supporting axis will absorb static and dynamic forces originating from antenna components, thus, allowing to function under extreme weather conditions. The antenna is consisting of a low-band and a high-band array antenna, positioned back-to-back, each equipped with a reflector screen.

Therefore, WBCQ can access all shortwave frequency bands between 6 MHz and 26 MHz.

As the system dispose of a DC grounding, only a minimal number of insulators and no insulation in structural parts are required.

An implemented computer-controlled and monitored system offers unlimited rotation capacity and will turn toward the coverage area using the shortest possible path. Intelligent drive control ensures the large rotating part of the structure is jolt-free, starting and braking to standstill with a high rotation speed of 1.2 degrees per second and a positioning accuracy of < 1degree.

About

• Cestron International GmbH
  CESTRON International GmbH is a privately owned company founded in 2001 and has been growing over the years to a major systems integrator. CESTRON provides turnkey radio solutions as well as transmitter and antenna systems in the shortwave (HF), medium wave (MF), longwave (LF) and ultra-longwave (VLF) frequency ranges worldwide.
• WBCQ
  WBCQ is a shortwave radio station operating at Monticello, Maine, United States. The station is owned and operated by Allan and Angela Weiner, who are also owning and operating WXME AM 780 kHz and WBCQ-FM 94.7 MHz at the shortwave site.
• WLC
  World's Last Chance is an online Christian ministry that produces end-time Bible prophetic videos on the web. The website upholds teachings from the Bible, which have yet to be disproved. The ministry is operated by non-denominational volunteers who share the belief that the second coming of Christ is only a few years away and are dedicated to sharing God's last warning of mercy with the world before His coming.

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"Modern Radio Communication Methods in Public Transportation"

The Information Technology Society in the VDE (German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) invited to a public workshop on the topic ""Modern Radio Communication Methods in Public Transportation". The workshop has been chaired by Prof. Dr. Uwe-Carsten Fiebig (German Aerospace Center DLR) and Milan Popović (Cestron International GmbH) and took place at the VDE House in Berlin directly before the world's largest rail exhibition "Innotrans 2022".

Summary of the Workshop Topics:

Wireless transmission systems are increasingly important in public transport to ensure smooth operation of trains, subways and buses etc. With its public discussion session " Modern Radio Communication Methods in Public Transportation ", the ITG / VDE Expert Committee "Radio Systems" addressed modern radio procedures for local and long-distance rail traffic as well as for subways, cars and buses of local transport companies. The discussion session highlighted the steps in which existing radio systems will be replaced by new methods, the potential of modern transmission methods, and which technologies support new applications such as autonomous driving. Another focus has been given on safety-relevant applications right through to autonomous driving.

Please click here for more detailed information (in German): More information about the event (in German)