Nigeria accounts for 82% Africa’s telecom subscription, 29% internet consumption, says NCC EVC, Danbatta
By Emma Ogbuehi
The remarkable growth trajectory embarked upon by the Nigerian telecommunications industry has started yielding dividends with the country accounting for 82% of Africa’s telecom subscribers and 29% of the continent’s internet consumption. Nigeria, in addition, rates eleventh globally in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage.
These were disclosures by the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in his welcome address at an emerging technology forum for the telecommunications industry, in Abuja on Thursday. The theme of the platform was “Contextualizing the Network Readiness Index (NRI) for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry.
Despite the phenomenal increase in the telecommunications subscription and internet consumption, Danbatta noted that the fact that Nigeria’s Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries is both humbling and challenging.
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He stressed that prioritizing network readiness is not only a strategic necessity but a mandate, for development of the country. The NCC EVC enthused that the enhancement of digital access and the expansion of networks have left an indelible impact on the lives of the citizens.
He noted however that while these accomplishments are being celebrated the dynamics of the society require even higher connectivity, reliability, and accessibility standards. “The surge in data utilisation, the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), the advent of artificial intelligence, and the emergence of cutting-edge technologies highlight the urgent need for ongoing network surveillance and expansion”, Danbatta observed.
To navigate this era of transformation, he suggested the need to embrace innovation, make strategic investments, and cultivate a growth-friendly ecosystem.
Earlier in his introductory remarks, the Executive Commissioner – Technical Services, Engr. Ubale A. Maska, explained that the primary objective of this forum was to provide standard roadmaps and best practices which can be used to measure the impact of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) on the Nigerian society and promote the adoption of new technologies.
He said: “We will review the latest findings of Nigeria’s NRI, explore various barriers and key drivers to the implementation of innovative technologies, and ultimately create actionable solutions to help move the industry forward”.
Ubale added that with the world becoming increasingly interconnected and economic activities relying heavily on the digital space, it has become essential for countries to be at the forefront in terms of technology adoption.
This, he said, is why the Network Readiness Index (NRI) is so important to measure the progress of a country as it relates to ICTs and digital transformation.