Emmanuel OchayiExecutive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has reiterated the commitment of the Commission to achieve a threshold of 50% broadband penetration target by the end of 2023 and 70% by 2025.
He made the promise in a special media chat held in the northern part of Nigeria. During the media event attended by senior editors and media chief executives, Prof. Danbatta highlighted the Commission’s achievements since he assumed office and emphasized the importance of broadband expansion.
He noted that Fifth Generation (5G) service subscriptions had already reached half a million, showcasing the growing demand for high-speed internet in Nigeria.
As of July 2023, the broadband penetration rate in the country stood at 47.01%, a significant increase from the 6% recorded in 2015. This growth has led to over 89.73 million subscriptions on 3G, 4G, and 5G networks, with general internet subscriptions reaching 159.5 million, up from less than 100 million in 2015.
Prof. Danbatta stated: “Through stimulating broadband infrastructure across the country, broadband penetration, which stood at 6% in 2015, has increased significantly to 47.01% as of July 2023.”
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The telecommunications sector has also made substantial contributions to Nigeria’s economy. From 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015, it now contributes 16% quarterly as of the second quarter of 2023.
Furthermore, the authorization of more telecommunications companies to operate in Nigeria has led to an increase in investments, from $38 billion in 2015 to $75 billion.
One of the notable achievements highlighted by Prof. Danbatta was the revenue generated through the sale of the Fifth Generation (5G) C-Band Spectrum, which amounted to over $847.8 million for the Federal Government.
Among the milestones and initiatives undertaken by the NCC under Prof. Danbatta’s leadership are the introduction of Spectrum Trading Guidelines, re-farming and re-planning of certain spectrum bands for efficiency, and the landing of additional submarine cables, such as the Google 2,000km Equiano subsea Internet cable in 2022.
The NCC has also invested in research and development (R&D) in the telecoms sector, endowed professorial chairs in Nigerian universities, and created the Digital Economy Department to drive indigenous telecom sector growth.
Consumer-focused initiatives include the establishment of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) in over 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the creation of the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) to ensure the protection of telecom consumers.
Despite the achievements, Prof. Danbatta acknowledged challenges such as vandalism, securing equitable Right of Way (RoW) from governmental stakeholders, and dealing with multiple taxation and regulation. However, he assured that the Commission is working with stakeholders to overcome these obstacles and sustain the growth of the telecoms sector as a driver of socio-economic development in Nigeria.
Prof. Danbatta reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to providing reliable and accessible telecommunications services to the Nigerian people.
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