NCC Reaffirms Commitment to Bridging Broadband Infrastructure Gap

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed commitment to bridge the gap between existing and planned fibre infrastructure to increase broadband penetration in the country.

Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) stated this at the 10^th edition of eWorld Forum, held in Lagos.

The conference organized by Ajomedia Limited was themed: ‘Roadmap to Broadband Everywhere’.

Danbatta who was represented by Oluwatoyin Asaju, Director, Spectrum Administration, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) said that they have set up strategy to ensure access to pervasive Broadband through an Open Access Model in line with National Broadband Plan.

He noted that this is in line with the commission’s continued doggedness in ensuring that the lacuna between the existing and planned fibtre infrastructure in Nigeria is narrowed.

He added that the deployment of Optic Fibre transmission network was adopted in the “Open Access Model” so as to bridge the current digital gap and deliver fast and reliable broadband services to households and businesses.

He stated that adequate broadband has been globally acknowledged as the foundation for transformation to a knowledge-based economy.

According to him, “The World Bank has found that a 10 % increase in broadband penetration in developing countries results in a commensurable increase of 1.38% in GDP.

“It has also been proven that for every 10% increase in Broadband penetration, a commensurate increase in employment of 2-3% is achieved. Productivity also increases to between 5-10% with a 10% increase in BB penetration.

“So it is almost impossible to equate any other modern technological tool with Broadband, because of its inherent potential to address issues relating to sustainable development and simultaneously facilitate socio-economic development, while instigating transformative change in all the sectors of the economy.”

Danbatta stated that the establishment of Broadband Implementation & Monitoring Committee (BIMC) was to drive the broadband infrastructure licensing and deployment.

He said that the licensing of the six Infracos was to ensure that they provide IP fiber Optic capacity, to all the 774 LGAs of the federation on an open access, price regulated basis, with a 10 Gbps Point of Access (PoA) capacity in each local government of the federation.

He revealed that broadband can reduce poverty and inequality, help ensure access to health and education, help to mitigate climate change, promote peace and international cooperation, and ensure sustainable development in the decades to come.

He called on government at all levels to curtail the issues of multiple taxation and regulation right of way issues as well as timely and simplified approval processes for site acquisition and harmonized right of way charges in the industry.

This according to him, will enhance the spread of Broadband to the unserved and underserved areas of Nigeria, because if you build an efficient Broadband network everything else will follow.

Aaron Ukodie, Managing director Ajomedia and Publisher eWorldNews, speaking earlier at the conference said that the time is now for us to start setting a new digital agenda, which will lead to achieving a digital revolution.

According to him, to achieve the revolution, the regulator has to focus more on enabling the players and making the environment more investment-friendly.

“The licensed infracos are encouraged to give access to all parts of the country, and this will give them free hands to deploy technology, as new technologies are emerging.

“Nigeria should begin to think about these new technologies, 5G, and how we are going to be able to achieve the digital revolution,” he said.

He stated that for us to achieve this desired revolution, consented effort should be made by the regulator to provide enabling environment for players in the industry to thrive.

Ukodie noted that the environment should be more investment-friendly than it is now, if we must reach the underserved and the unserved people across the country.