Natcomms Plans Telecom Subscribers Summit

National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) plans to host the first edition of the National Telecommunications Subscribers Summit.

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, President of the Association, in a statement in Lagos said that the Summit with the Theme: Nigerian Telecomm Revolution: Consumerism as the last mile challenge, will be held at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos  on Friday, 28th of September, 2012.

According to him, the objective of the Summit is to create an independent forum where subscribers will have firsthand knowledge about the service delivery processes of telecoms operators.

He said that the event is a one-stop shop for the telecoms operators where common causes of network failure and several challenges in the industry will be examined and possible solutions proffered.

Furthermore, he said the summit is meant to get subscribers input on how to address the myriad of challenges facing the industry, get them to consent to the line of actions that will be presented as a communiqué, which will be presented to the National Assembly as Action Plan for tackling the challenges of the industry.

Chief Ogunbanjo said, available statistics showed that Nigeria is the fastest growing telecoms market in Africa, having the most vibrant subscriber’s structure in Africa, and that consumer ratio by subscriber is the highest in Africa saying “subscriber’s impact on telecoms operators is about the highest in Africa”.

He stated Natcoms is hosting the Summit because the telecoms industry is a huge source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the nation stressing, “It is today the highest contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and currently tipped to increase following the landing of some submarine mobile cable”.

Another critical reason for calling the Summit, according to him was the major rift, which the issue of service quality has created in the past between key stakeholders in the industry.

He explained further that Natcoms is bringing together the operators to disclose to subscribers the service delivery process of telecoms services so that they can better appreciate the industry.

Participants expected at the event are subscribers, telecoms regulatory agency, Government at all levels, Labour, Lottery Commission, Consumer Protection Council, Joint Tax Board, Industry stakeholders, The Judiciary, National Assembly members and Gentlemen of the Press.