NCC poised to accelerate deployment of emerging technologies: Danbatta

*Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, highlights how the telecoms sector regulator prioritises expansion of Broadband infrastructure and deployment of new technologies in the country

Gbenga Kayode |  ConsumerConnect

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has stated that NCC will not relent in promoting latest and emerging technologies to energise business and the sector for the benefit of the country and its citizens.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission said Prof. Danbatta affirmed this while speaking to a cross-section of stakeholders at the just-concluded Cyberchain Abuja 2022.

The NCC EVC/CEO also noted that the telecoms sector of the Nigerian economy has been a key booster of economic activities, transforming the way people live and work as well as increasing efficiency in other sectors.

The Commission is committed to driving the deployment and adoption of emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), utilisation of value of Big Data, Blockchain, Robotics and Virtual Reality, FinTech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Telemedicine, among others, to stimulate greater contribution of the sector to the economy, stated he.

According to Danbatta, it is also gladdening that telecoms has been an enabler of Nigeria’s economic growth and development as it contributes substantially to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He further said: “From $500 million investments in the sector as at 2001, the telecommunications industry has recorded over $70 billion investment till date, while the growth in the sector has been phenomenal, from some 400,000 functional phone lines in 2001 to over 209 million active mobile subscriptions, achieving a teledensity of 110 percent, as at August 2022.

“The sector has provided over 500,000 formal and informal jobs for Nigerians.”

The NCC Chief Executive stated: “From an insignificant contribution to GDP in 2001, telecoms sector, as at the last quarter of 2021, contributed 12.61 percent to GDP, while the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector as a group, has also contributed 18.44 percent to GDP as at the second quarter of 2022.”

Expanding Broadband infrastructure, deployment of new technologies

Danbatta as well said: “For us as a country to reap the full benefits of all these emerging technologies in ways that further spur growth in our national economy, NCC prioritises the need to improve and expand Broadband infrastructure and the deployment of new technologies, such as the Fifth Generation of Mobile Communication (5G).

“Our efforts at diligently driving this will facilitate the actualisation of the set targets in the Federal Government’s digital economy policy.”

The EVC/CEO noted that with the rapid digital transformation happening through telecommunication sector, the country will be in a better position to create alternate economy for diversification, innovation and creativity in e-commerce and digital entrepreneurship, thus empowering a significant number of the populace to become self-reliant and self-employed.