NCC restates commitment to improved Broadband connectivity, access as enabler of economic growth

*Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, emphasises the Federal Government and the telecoms sector regulatory Commission have continued to demonstrate ‘commitment and passion’ through various policy and regulatory frameworks to ensure wider Broadband coverage for improved access by telecoms consumers in the West African country

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the Federal Government set out ambitious targets accompanied by timelines that aim towards making Broadband an enabler of economic growth across all sectors in the country.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, stated this in his Keynote Address at the weekend, on the occasion of the 13th Annual Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum/Africa Digital Awards in Lagos.

High-speed Broadband Internet facility

Maida, represented at the event by Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs (DPA) of NCC, noted that the theme of this year’s edition of the forum presented yet another opportunity for the NCC, as the regulator of the Nigerian telecommunications sector to share thoughts and ideas with industry stakeholders concerning the prospects and challenges confronting the country’s march to achieving “ubiquitous Broadband connectivity across the nooks and crannies” of Nigeria.

The EVC/CEO of the Commission also noted that limited access to high-speed service, lack of advanced IT skills, funding, inadequate infrastructure among several other factors identified as the major constraints slowing Internet economy in the West African country.

He, however, said that Nigeria had demonstrated commitment and passion, through various policy and regulatory frameworks, to ensure wider Broadband coverage for the country.

He equally affirmed that the programme was a veritable platform for the Commission to share thoughts and ideas with industry stakeholders concerning the prospects and challenges confronting our march to achieving ubiquitous Broadband connectivity across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

Significance of Broadband connectivity to Nigeria and telecoms consumers

In respect of the essential importance of the digital technology tool to economy, Maida stated that Broadband or high-speed Internet access allows users to access the Internet and Internet-related services at significantly higher speeds than those available through “dial-up” services.

The EVC/CEO further noted: “The digital revolution has brought about changes to how businesses and economies operate.”

According to him, most developing economies of the world are now catching up with the trend, while “investing significantly in areas of information technology and wireless communications.”

On the connection between Broadband connectivity and access, the NCC Executive Vice-Chairman said Broadband studies by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and sundry international organisations indicated a correlation between having access to Broadband and the growth of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“It has been abundantly established that countries with a high density of Broadband networks have higher GDP per capita for the citizens.

“This is because Broadband access becomes a key economic index for improving and measuring the efficiency and productivity of the national workforce,” stated he.

He also related that an ITU Global Connectivity Report 2022, provided a detailed assessment of the current state of connectivity and presents solutions to meet this new imperative.

Quoting from the report, Dr. Maida said: “In the last 30 years, the number of Internet users surged from a few million to almost five billion.

“Yet, the potential remains untapped because one-third of humanity remains offline, and many users only enjoy basic connectivity.”

The ITU Report further showed that universal connectivity remains a distant prospect, as Internet penetration has reached 95 percent of the population in only 13 countries as of 2022.

Broadband technology, data demand in Nigeria, other African countries

Still referencing the ITU report, the EVC/CEO, in his address, noted the report disclosed that in Nigeria and other African countries, Fourth Generation (4G) coverage in urban areas was four times the coverage in rural areas.

“This is partly because commercial deployment of Internet access is not currently viable or seen as viable in these areas, due to high deployment cost and/or low user demand,” he stated.

He mentioned that globally, and more importantly in Nigeria, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic actually marked the beginning of a major surge and acceleration in the uptake of Broadband and the adoption of digital services by individual consumers and businesses.

The era also witnessed extensive digitalisation of governmental services in Nigeria and across the world.

Maida affirmed that most hitherto face-to-face activities had automatically migrated online with an accompanying quest for digital literacy by many to be able to continue to carry out their daily personal and official activities through digital platforms.

On NCC’s regulatory direction

Maida, whom the Nigerian Senate recently confirmed as the substantive Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO the foremost telecoms sector regulatory Commission, said

“as the regulator of the nation’s highly dynamic telecommunication industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has, over the years, put several regulatory frameworks in place towards ensuring incremental Broadband deployment for available, accessible and affordable connectivity to telecoms consumers.”

He further stressed that post-pandemic era, the NCC, working with various stakeholders, has continued to explore ways to sustain the growth of Broadband networks to address identified digital gaps (demand and supply sides) highlighted by the pandemic and consider steps to overcome these challenges especially in terms of addressing the digital divide.

He asserted: “Through various policy directions, especially the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the Nigerian Government has set out ambitious targets accompanied by timelines that aim towards making Broadband an enabler of economic growth across all sectors in Nigeria.

“Alhough limited access to high-speed service, lack of advanced IT skills, funding, inadequate infrastructure among several other factors have been identified as the major constraints slowing Nigeria’s Internet economy, Nigeria has demonstrated commitment and passion, through various policy and regulatory frameworks, to ensure wider Broadband coverage for the country.

Maida, therefore, affirmed that “the data revolution presents great potential and opportunity for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.”

Commission’s areas of focus, by EVC/CEO

Dr. Maida as well disclosed the telecoms regulatory Commission’s focus in the next four years and beyond under the current administration.

He said this “aligns strictly with the vision for the digital economy, as envisioned in the Strategic Plan of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.”

Maida stated that the Strategic Blueprint, unveiled October 2023, has five pillars and prioritises deployment of broadband infrastructure and digital empowerment of three million (3MTT) Nigerian youths, among others.

The Executive Vice-Chairman spoke on the new strategic plan. He stated that one of the five pillars of the Strategic Blueprint is the “Infrastructure” component, which focuses on Broadband accessibility, availability and affordability.

Other pillars of the Ministerial strategic plan are Knowledge; Policy; Innovation/Entrepreneurship and Capital; and Trade.

The Strategic Plan is designed to drive a major part of the overall implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“The NCC, under my leadership, will support the target of the Ministry to boost Nigeria’s Broadband penetration rate to 70 percent by the end of 2025 in line with the NNBP 2020-2025, through the laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.”

Strategic Plan and fresh Broadband connectivity targets

“In the same vein, and in line with the vision of the Ministry, we are targeting the provision of coverage of, at least, 80 percent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027.”

The EVC/CEO noted: “We also intend to secure between 300-500 percent increase in Broadband investment by the end of 2027; while we work to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61 percent to less than 20 per cent by 2027.”

According to Maida, other key targets in the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, which has adopted a clear-cut strategy to transform Nigeria’s digital economy sector and which the NCC is committed to, include the plan to deliver data download speed of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025, he said.

The NCC Chief Executive noted it is also to achieve a 50 percent improvement in quality of service (QoS) by 2024; 22 percent increase in net GDP contribution by digital economy by 2027 as well as increase in investment into Nigeria’s telecommunications sector by 15 percent year-on-year (YoY).

The Ministerial blueprint also targets 70 percent digital literacy by 2027; a capital increase raised by Nigerian tech startups by 50 per cent year-on-year from $1 billion/year in 2022 to $5 billion/year in 2027; and achieving 25 per cent domiciliation of local technology startups by 2027.

Other expectations are to accomplish for Nigeria, 60 per cent government data digitisation by the end of 2026; the creation of 50,000 Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry jobs by 2026 while also ensuring the accomplishment of 22 per cent net GDP contribution by 2027, among others, he said.

Maida, therefore, reiterated the commitment of the Commission to supporting the strategic blueprint of its supervising Ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration “by stimulating stronger Broadband infrastructure that extends beyond connecting people but also focuses on economic empowerment and creating opportunity for inclusion.

He added: “The current administration expects that with improved access to quality and affordable broadband, and upgraded critical services, we would be able to work collaboratively to catalyse a digital transformation that impacts our entire population.

“To achieve this potential, the NCC will continue to ensure diligent implementation of our broadband strategy to ensure that everybody is carried along.”

Maida urged all necessary industry stakeholders to join hands with the Commission as it discharges its regulatory mandate towards building robust and resilient Broadband infrastructure that supports the potential of the growing data revolution to drive collective prosperity in Nigeria.

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