Broadband: NCC, Google partner to activate Nigeria’s digital transformation policy

*Juliet Ehimuan, Director of Google West Africa, discloses the Big Tech’s commitment of $1billion across five years to various interventions to support digital transformation in Nigeria and across the African continent

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Google Global Services Nigeria have expressed determination to work together towards  actualisation of national targets for ubiquitous Broadband access in furtherance of Nigeria’s digital transformation policy.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Thursday, April 14, 2022, stated this development aligns with and gives unambiguous expression to the NCC strategic vision plan, centering on strategic partnership with necessary stakeholders in order to achieve regulatory objectives.

RELATED: NCC Urges Stakeholders To Activate Digital Economy For Diversification, Transformation

The NCC disclosed the two organisations made the commitment when a delegation from Google Global Services Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja, FCT, recently.

Dr. Adinde noted that the meeting was to deliberate on viable collaborative interventions to propel digital transformation across the country in particular and Africa in general.

Commission targets 70 percent Broadband penetration by 2025, says Danbatta

Receiving the Google delegation, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, said the Commission’s expectations, initiatives, and vision towards increasing Broadband penetration, quality of service, advancement of a digital economy and commitment to improving national security through technological advancement are at the front burner of its regulatory interventions.

READ ALSO: NCC Activating Strategic Plan For Broadband Infrastructure, All-Inclusive Digital Economy ─Danbatta

Underscoring the importance of such synergy between the Commission and Google, Prof. Danbatta, represented by Engr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS) at NCC, said the telecoms sector regulatory Commission looked forward to making the initiatives of both parties more impactful by enhancing cooperation between the NCC and Google Nigeria for quantifiable and remarkable impact.

The EVC/CEO expressed optimism that Google’s investment in the subsea cable, Equiano, which is expected to land in Nigeria by end of April 2022, would be more impactful in driving NCC’s ongoing implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025.

According to him the project is aimed at increasing Broadband penetration to 70 percent by 2025.

Danbatta also stated: “I am hopeful that Equiano will have additional landing points in the hinterlands through collaborative efforts with the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to reduce retail data prices significantly, and thereby complement the Commission’s efforts at ensuring affordable Internet services are available to boost the Commission’s ongoing Broadband policy drive.”

RELATED: Stakeholders, Broadband Access Critical To Effective 5G Deployment, National Development ─Pantami

Earlier in her remarks, Juliet Ehimuan, Director, Google West Africa, who led the delegation to NCC, commended the telecoms sector regulator for its consultative approach in formulating regulatory policies, as engine room for optimal delivery of telecommunications services that will, in turn, impact the digital economy drive of the government.

Ehimuan particularly applauded the Commission for its seamless, fair, credible, impartial and successful auction of the 3.5 Gigahertz spectrum for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) in Nigeria, stating that it is evident that both the NCC and Google share a common goal.

According to Ehimuan, demands for Internet services have increased the need for more capacity and sustainable collaborations with all relevant stakeholders within the public and private sectors.

Big Tech’s $1billion interventions for digital transformation

The Director of Google West Africa also asserted Google’s commitment of $1billion across five years to various interventions in support of digital transformation in Nigeria and across Africa.

RELATED: Danbatta Restates NCC’s Commitment To Broadband, Consumer Protection, Digital Economy

Ehimuan further stated research has proved that Africa will have 300 million additional Internet users, and Nigeria will lead in that number, given its current statistics of over 141 million Internet subscribers and Broadband penetration of over 40.88 percent as of January 2022.

The Commission noted that the Equiano cable system is the third private international cable owned by Google and the 14th subsea cable invested by Google.

The facility connects Portugal and South Africa, running along the West Coast of Africa, with branching units along the way that can be used to extend connectivity to more African countries. The first branch is expected to land in Nigeria by end of April 2022, said NCC.

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