Nigeria @ 54: Stakeholders Urge Focus on Broadband

Stakeholders in the country’s information and communications technology have urged governments at all levels to show more commitment towards the development of broadband infrastructure as a way to cheetah-pole-vault the economy.

They said the commitment should be focus in the provision of adequate funding for the ministry of Communications Technology broadband master plan as well as creating enabling environment for private investors to invest in the provision of broadband infrastructure to access and affordability.

Their consensus is that high rates of broadband adoption do contribute to income growth, lower unemployment and other measures of economic success.

Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMMS), said that ICT’s contribution to the economy began 13 years ago with liberalization of the sector despite 54 years of the country’s independence.

According to him, the sector has contributed about 7.8% to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), providing employment opportunities as well as assisting others sectors of the economy to deliver efficient services.

“With the success recorded in the voice service, the focus now should be on providing access and cheap broadband internet to every citizen. As e-government and e-commerce is taking root, many things are done online, without broadband connectivity and access all these will not be realized. Broadband drives mobile money, cashless initiative and effective use of National Identity card,” he said.

Ogunbanjo however commended the effort of minister of Communications Technology in spearheading broadband master plan of the government, but expressed reservation over its implementation.

“Broadband master plan is a laudable initiative; it is going to be stall by fund. The ministry is underfunded and the initiative is going face the same problem in its implementation,” he added.

Engr. Samuel Adeleke, immediate past president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) and chief executive officer, Steineng Limited, said that the country has made some progress in the provision of broadband internet with emergences of broadband operators such as Swift Networks, Smile Communications and IPNX

Adeleke, however regretted that they are operating mainly in major cities such as Lagos and Ibadan.

He urged government to support rollout of broadband internet across the country through creating of enabling environment for private sector to invest with the same model used in the GSM rollout.

“What government needs to do is to provide broadband infrastructure for businessmen to invest in providing broadband services as well as political will to entrench broadband by implementing good plan. This is why we proposed to NCC to auction the 2.6GHZ spectrum on regional levels to pave way for regional players,” he said.

He noted that cable network is important for the growth of broadband especially in organized environment devoid of vandalization and frequent cut to fibre optic, this he said, has made wireless technology as the preferred technology for broadband internet in the country.