By Chinwendu Agoha (MDA Reporter)
Revelations from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), indicates that Nigerians will witness a significant improvement in services in the nation's telecom industry in the next five years.
Professor Umar Garba Dambata, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, made the disclosure at the weekend. In an interactive with editors and media executives in Abuja on Friday, Dambatta said there shall be massive deployment of 4G network across the country, broadband penetration and proper implementation of digital economy and strategy. He disclosed that protection of consumers’ right against unwholesome practices by some service providers shall be given a major focus in the next five years.
Danbatta whose second tenure has recently been renewed by government, stated that in the next 4 to 5 years, the cost of data will be reduced from its current N800 per Gigabit to N390 per Gigabit. He, however, affirmed that the plan can be achieved steadily and gradually. He lamented the unsolicited text messages to consumers, saying that more important weapons would be deployed to combat such practices by service providers
Dambatta said: ‘’ We have hope to take broadband penetration to 70 per cent and to at least 90 per cent of the population in 2025 in line with new target in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBBP), 2020-2025. We want to protect consumers and ensure they have value for their money. We want to continue to support and fast-track the digital economy drive of the Federal Government of Nigeria and this has led to the creation of a Digital Economy Department in the Commission.
The Commission, he further said, is "placing emphasis on growing the digital economy in collaboration with sister agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. (FMoCDE). “We hope to consolidate on spectrum trading to ensure maximum and efficient usage of available frequencies; continuous SIM registration audit to provide security and curtail incidences of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery; completion and commissioning of Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs) in the remaining states to enhance security and provide relief to citizens in distress.
The NCC boss stated that: “Finally, we are committed the execution of counterpart Funding Agreements with the Licensed IfraCo to facilitate increase in fibre deployment in the country and ensure, at least one Point of Access(PoA) in each of the 774 Local Governmant Areas (LGAs) in Nigerian to enhance digital transformation,’’ he said. NNL.
