NCC has restated its determination to continue providing a level-playing ground for operators in the industry to thrive
By Emma Ogbuehi
In a bid to promote investment and delivery of innovative services to individual consumers and business owners by ensuring enhanced consumer quality of experience, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has restated its determination to continue providing a level-playing ground for operators in the industry to thrive. To this end, the Commission is working assiduously with various stakeholders to see how more businesses can embrace digital platforms for delivering their services to the consumer.
These were parts of the declarations by the Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, at the “NCC DAY” during the recent 18th Abuja International Trade Fair organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Danbatta lauded this year’s edition of the Trade Fair with the theme – ‘Sustainable Financing and Taxation’ describing it as very apt and timely, especially considering the pivotal role the telecommunications industry plays in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing the quality of life for citizens across the globe. He noted that the telecommunications sector has been a strategic driver of the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government, as it continues to provide the needed digital stamina to support the economy, especially through technology.
READ ALSO:
NCC extends submission of application for Hackathon
The NCC/EVC enthused that the telecommunication empowers individuals, connects businesses, strengthen industries and enable Governments to provide essential services efficiently thereby driving development and prosperity.
According to Danbatta, Information Communications Technology (ICT) is not only one of the fastest growing industries – directly creating millions of jobs – but it is also an important enabler of innovation and development, as it provides the backbone infrastructure for transactional business and taxation for Government. He added however, that, maintaining this digital infrastructure and its continued growth necessitates substantial investment.
While admitting that taxation is essential for funding of Government initiatives, Danbatta advised that there must be a delicate balance between revenue generation and industry growth. “Our role as regulator, is to advocate for fair taxation practices that do not stifle innovation or place undue burden on consumers”, he remarked.
He stressed that it is in response to ensuring that Nigeria is competitive for operators that the Commission continuously puts a number of regulatory measures in place to ensure seamless access by Nigerians to telecommunications services.
He disclosed that in Nigeria today, the number of active mobile subscriptions reached 220,715,961 million as at August 2023, while Teledensity stood at 115.63 per cent at the same period. Also, the number of active Internet subscribers was 159,034,717 Million with broadband penetration at 45.57 per cent as at August, 2023. Danbatta stated that the steady growth of telecoms sector over the years with its pervasive positive impact on all other sectors of the economy in terms of increased automation of processes and digital transformation in service delivery, has been remarkable.
To sustain this, he said, the NCC continues to create a conducive environment that stimulates deployment of robust telecoms/broadband infrastructure for improving the quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) for telecoms consumers, be it individuals or corporates.
NCC, he said, is driving initiatives for the full deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) network in Nigeria. Already, 5G spectrum licenses have been issued to companies for rollout. The 5G network, Danbatta stressed, will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities to communications services in Nigeria. “I am happy to inform you that licensees have kicked off the commercial launch of 5G network in some cities across the nation”, he announced.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director, of the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) of the Commission, Mallam Alkasim A. Umar, reiterated NCC’s commitment to ensuring fair competition and a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the telecommunication industry, particularly in safeguarding the interest of consumers from abuse of their rights and privilege, and against unfair practices in the telecom service value chain. The commitment, he said, is demonstrated by the Commission’s continuous effort to establish seamless programs that will Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE Mandate) telecom consumers through various consumer-centric initiatives.
