Adewolu added that all main policy instruments emphasized the need for Nigerians to play larger roles in the ownership and management of major spheres in the sector.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has detailed some of the important steps it is taking to guarantee that businesses and individual telecoms consumers in Nigeria benefit from broadband and internet connection.
The Commission also highlighted the importance of the continuing execution of the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 and its Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 in driving the development of innovative technologies and local content in the country.
The NNBP, according to Adeleke Adewolu, the executive commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) at NCC, who spoke during a breakout session at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 2021 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, is one of the primary policy tools that guides the sector’s development.
“Infrastructure, Policy, Demand Drivers, and Funding/Incentives” are the four important pillars of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) for 2020-2025, he stated.
In many ways, he believes, the NNBP is unique. One is that it defines “broadband” in Nigeria as “connectivity delivering a minimum of 10 Mbps in rural areas and a minimum of 25 Mbps in urban areas to every Nigerian at an affordable price and quality to every Nigerian.”
On the other hand, he claims that the NCC’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 is a framework designed to streamline regulatory focus for greater efficiency while remaining in compliance with applicable policy instruments.
“The Commission will concentrate its efforts over the next five years on five strategic pillars. Organizational renewal for operational efficiency and regulatory excellence; provision of infrastructure for a digital economy that fosters national development; improved Quality of Service (QoS) for improved Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE); promotion of fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment, and innovative services; and strategic collaboration and partnership,” he stated.
“The influence of connection on businesses and the economy, in terms of the impact of internet connectivity on enterprises and the national economy is well documented,” Adewolu said, adding that a 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration leads in a 0.6 percent to 2.8 percent boost in GDP (GDP).
Furthermore, he stated that everyone is witness to the internet’s revolutionary impact on agriculture, health, education, information and communication, as well as entertainment. This is in addition to a significant change in banking and financial services, as seen by the widespread use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and banking softwares.
“Today, all industries rely on internet access supplied by our mobile networks to function, and life without connectivity is unthinkable.” In concrete words, he stated, “the Nigerian telecommunications industry has continued to lead national economic growth.”
According to him, the telecoms sector has constantly supported the expansion of the Nigerian economy in recent years, as well as providing crucial infrastructure for the digital transformation of virtually all aspects of life.
According to Adewolu, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry maintained its development trajectory in the second quarter of 2021, contributing 17.9% to national GDP. He ascribed this to the telecoms sub-expansion. sector’s “This trend indicates how much our industry is contributing to the government’s goal of diversifying Nigeria’s economy and ensuring inclusive growth in all sectors,” he said.
According to the ECSM, it is difficult to conceive how Nigeria, and indeed the global economy, would have fared during the zenith of the Covid-19 outbreak without the internet.
He argued that the conference’s hybrid format was only an example of the benefits that connectivity, which the Commission is promoting, can provide.
Adewolu added that all main policy instruments emphasized the need for Nigerians to play larger roles in the ownership and management of major spheres in the sector.
He also mentioned that Mr. President recently unveiled the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, which spelled out very specific policy goals and measures for boosting indigenous participation.
“It may interest you to know that the National Communications Commission (NCC) has established a National Office for the Development of Indigenous Content in the Telecommunications Sector (NODITS) to help achieve Policy objectives,” he stated.
Adewolu claimed that when taken collectively, the tools allow the NCC to aggressively drive infrastructure development, ensuring that all Nigerians have access to broadband infrastructure and services that are available, accessible, and affordable.
He expressed optimism that, by the conclusion of the NNBP’s lifecycle, the government would have achieved its goal of effective coverage of at least 90% of the population at a cost of N390 per 1GB of data.
