The introduction of co-location and infrastructure sharing services in Nigeria was done to mitigate the challenges of deploying telecoms services in the country.
The Nigerian Communications Commission, in a bid to remove these challenges, has issued a new guideline on co-location and infrastructure sharing services, with the aim of establishing framework within which Access Providers and Access Seekers can negotiate and come up with viable solutions to telecom challenges.
The commission in a statement made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek on Tuesday, said that the Objectives of the new guidelines is to ensure that the incidence of unnecessary duplication of infrastructure is minimised or completely avoided.
-Protect the environment by reducing the proliferation of infrastructure and facilities installations.
-Promote fair competition through equal access being granted to the installations and facilities of operators on mutually agreed terms.
-Ensure that the economic advantages derivable from the sharing of facilities are harnessed for the overall benefit of all telecommunications stakeholders.
-Minimise capital expenditure on supporting infrastructures and to free morenfunds for investment in core network equipment.
-Encourage Access Providers and Access Seekers to pursue a cost-oriented policy with the added effect of a reduction in the tariffs chargeable to consumers.
The telecom regulator revealed that the status which is subjected to Telecommunication Act revolved around networks interconnection regulations, competition practices regulations, Quality of Service (QoS) regulations, other laws, rules and subsidiary legislations that may be developed by the Commission from time to time and relevant Licence conditions.
It added that the guidelines would encourage Access Providers and Access Seekers to pursue a cost-oriented policy with the added effect of a reduction in the tariffs chargeable to consumers.
The commission also said that Infrastructure Amenable to Sharing include those that could be shared without an attendant risk of lessening of competition. Stressing that it shall encourage and promote the sharing of passive infrastructure.
These, NCC listed to include “Rights of Way, Masts, Poles, Antenna mast and tower structures, ducts, trenches, space in buildings, electric power (public or private source), and
Also outlined in this regards are some active infrastructure, namely complete network structures, switching centers, frequencies, radio network controllers, and base stations.
It would be recalled that the commission has responsibility under the Act to promote fair competition in the communications industry, encourage and support infrastructure sharing among its licensees. In addition to development of guidelines for Co-location and Infrastructure Sharing (C/IS).