Nigerian Telecom market has not yet been harnessed to its full potentials.
Shitlesi Makkhofane, head Government and Industry Relations of Ericsson Group, made this remark when he led top management staff of Ericsson Nigeria on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission recently.
Makkhofane, stated that “Ericsson had studied the Nigerian telecom market and had speculated that the vast potentials of the market was yet to be fully harnessed and expressed interest in the deployment of Broadband to unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria.”
The Ericsson team also said, it is going to deploy the latest innovative technology to this end paying emphasis on the tripod of availability, accessibility and affordability of broadband, which is the leading item of NCC Management's 8-Point Agenda.
They added while at the Commission's Head Office, that they will seek clarifications on licensing requirements for a couple of businesses including type approval procedure for certain equipment because of its interest in exploring the realities of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G networks; huge data management; as well as providing cybersecurity solutions to enable network interoperability and traceability to check the use of cloned devices that pose threat to security.
However, the Ericsson team equally expressed concerns on dearth of Forex and its implications for the development of telecommunications infrastructure and market.
In his response, Mr.Sunday Dare, Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, who received the team on behalf of the Management of NCC expressed NCC Management's appreciation of the team's visit as well as knowledged their interest in the Nigerian telecom ecosystem.
He expressed delight on the issues raised by the Ericsson team and assured the team that NCC will continue to do what is right to attract FDI for the development and growth of the telecom industry in Nigeria.
Mr. Dare promised to convey the interests and concerns of the team to the EVC/CEO of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta for Management's consideration and necessary action.
The multinational technology and networking services and equipment company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden had Peter Olusoji of Ericsson Nigeria in the delegation.
