Nigeria is telecom investors’ haven, says NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured international and potential investors that Nigeria remains a sure haven for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investors with over 107 per cent teledensity for voice segment of telecommunications services already achieved.

According to NCC quarterly magazine, its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta, gave this assurance during a panel discussion in Spain.

Danbatta assured the international community that the NCC’s eight-point agenda had been carefully packaged to cushion all aspects of investments, especially “as we move to the next frontier of ICT revolution broadband for Internet connectivity.”

He said that NCC would keep fate with the National Broadband Plan, adding that in line with this, the country now had seven zones and each zone would have one operator that would deploy broadband services to every part of that zone.

He noted: “So far, two infrastructure licences have been issued for Lagos and North Central zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“And the process for issuing licences for the other five zones has begun.

“The regulatory framework has been put in place to ensure a transparent licencing process, because we really want to bridge the digital divide by addressing the infrastructure divide and we will be transparent and open about this.”

He stated that NCC unfolded strategies to promote universal access to support market driven communications, adding: “NCC has adopted a number of Internet-related projects and initiatives for its strategic management plan.

“Some of these plans are ongoing while some are proposed or planned for future dates.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Danbatta listed these to include provision of online portal for stakeholder consultation, development of infrastructure database to link Regional Internet Code of Conduct and development of National Registry Database. (NAN)

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