Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms regulatory agency in nation said the 3G or 4G coverage in the country is still low and a section with little or no coverage.
According to the Commission, the most pervasive networks are on 2G coverage and reaches about 90% of the population adding that there is still a proportion of the population that are underserved or unserved with universal access to mobile and the Internet.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, in an address he delivered at the 4th Quarter Seminar/Induction Ceremony of the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) held in Lagos, South West Nigeria at weekend reaffirmed his commitment to ensure that the provision of broadband infrastructure across the country achieves last-mile connectivity.
Danbatta who spoke on the theme: ‘Achieving Last-Mile Connectivity through Affordable Broadband’ said that the Commission has been able to build a pervasive infrastructure support for the industry, through its national broadband plan initiatives.
The EVC of the Commission who was represented by Dr. Henry Nkemadu, the Deputy Director/ Head, Special Intervention Projects said the NCC introduced authorization for infrastructure companies (Open Access Model) for the entire six geopolitical zones of the nation which is targeted at delivering affordable internet services to last mile end users, especially those at the rural areas.
He promised that the Commission will ensure the provision of broadband infrastructure across the country to achieve the last-mile connectivity.
According to him, the communications sector is a catalyst that would provide the needed infrastructure that will enable other sectors of Business, Education, Health, Agriculture, Governance and Finance to thrive.
He said that the sector provides the infrastructure to enable other infrastructures in the different sectors of Business, Education, Health, Agriculture, Governance and Finance.
“The importance of this sector has continued to enhance human capabilities such as healthy life, knowledge, creativity, collaboration, innovation, self-organisation and participation in the social, economic and political life of the country as well as impact on economic growth through productivity gains”, Danbatta said.
He revealed that the commission’s activities have impacted on efficient improvements in service delivery that enable national development explaining that telecommunication is an enabler to drive socio-economic growth, developments and modernisation across all sectors of the economy.
He added that robust and reliable telecoms service lies on adequate broadband infrastructure which will provide the needed impetus to achieve last mile connectivity.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, who chaired the event decried the hostile business environment in the country, noting that it’s the reason why CDMA Company’s died.
Adebayo who was represented by Engr. Aremu Olajide, Technical Committee Chairman, ALTON, called on the media to help in sustaining the environment for the existing and prospective operators by ensuring accurate reportage of the sector.
He appealed to the media to research on some of the laws being implemented by the state governments and ask questions on the areas of irregularities, citing the tax disputes between the Kogi state government and mobile network operators as an example.
He condemned the multiple taxation and other regulatory and environmental challenges telecom operators are being subjected to in the industry commending the 15-member committee inaugurated by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to draw up national broadband strategy for a work well done.
He further commended NCC for achieving the 30 per cent broadband penetration target that was set from 2013 to 2018.
Managing Director of Rack Centre, Dr. Ayotunde Coker in a presentation disclosed that cloud technology will transform Nigeria and Africa when deployed in sachet format.
He said that since Nigeria is running what he called a sachet economy, such that the citizens buy things in sachet form, deploying cloud in sachet format will ensure that it gets to the citizenry easy and faster.
Also speaking , Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group, said the future of Nigeria rests on technology stressing the need for the Federal Government to give more attention to technology and innovations, as these are what define the world today.
Ekeh who was represented by the Head of Corporate Communications, Zinox, Mr. Gideon Ayogu said that there is no better time than now for the country to support technological innovations.
He said that what the world is using to make significant relevance is technology, adding, “If you check the leading five companies in the world today, you will discover that technology companies to the list.”
NITRA Chairman, Emma Okonji, commended the NCC leadership for the passion for broadband development in the country, adding that it has further deepened broadband penetration and grew it to the 30.9 percent that we currently achieved.
Isaiah Erhiawarien
