Telcos Halt Further Investment, Urge FG to Rejig Policy

Telecommunications operators in the country have said that the only way they will invest resources in the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure required to improve quality of service provisioning as well as for increased broadband penetration is for government to change its policy in obtaining ‘right of way’ and assurances to  protect of telecom infrastructure.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body of operators in the telecom space, said that operators’ expectations in terms of policy direction to ensure increased broadband penetration this 2016 and beyond is protection of telecom infrastructure.

“If we do not have to spend so much on network rebuild it will help us to increase broadband deployment. Government must also remove all impediments agents for network roll out. This includes the very cumbersome way of obtaining right of way, the cost of ‘right of way’ procurement as well as other interference by local and state governments’ agencies on multiple taxation. These policies must be seen to protect the industry and also align with the overall industry capacity to deploy more capacity,” he said.

He added that granting multiple operational license to operators to provide metro and national fibre infrastructure does not guarantee investment in that regard, but implementation of well-articulated policies that will encourage operators to invest their money.

He added that operators that secured licenses to roll out broadband services with big money are yet to invest in provision of infrastructure because of clumsy process of securing ‘right of way’ from various government agencies.

He added that unless these barriers are addressed it may be difficult for operators to invest in infrastructure that will enable provision of broadband.

In a similar vein, Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said that the commission has presented the issue of ‘right of way’ to National Economic Council to help resolve for the interest of telecom infrastructure deployment in the country. He added that the Commission has also made case for a bill to protect telecom infrastructure at the National Assembly.

“This is aimed at guiding against vandalization of telecommunications infrastructure in the country,” he said.

Mohammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, said that availability of distributive channels of internet and making it accessible to ISPs is essential for the country to witness a broadband revolution.

“Without moving internet capacity from Lagos to other parts of the country, we may witness a lopsided broadband revolution, only in Lagos and its environs,” he said.