About 20 years ago, recharge card sellers were the sole source of airtime. To make this possible, the dealers had to rent a store, purchase recharge card pins from telecom companies, and install the necessary infrastructure to print the pins on paper.
In addition to the time commitment, dealers needed to shell out a lot of cash for overhead like rent, payroll, and energy to maintain their operations.
Recharge cards can now be purchased from the comfort of one‘s home, as dealers can now sell their recharge cards via platforms like Moniepoint, Opay, and others. All thanks to technology as dealers do not need to maintain physical offices in order to carry out their operations.
This is what Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) is all about as it represents an enormous opportunity for both suppliers and the customers who rely on their services.
In Nigeria, more and more businesses are taking advantage of advances in technology that makes TaaS possible. Improvements including nearly universal high-speed broadband, inexpensive data storage, easy payment methods, micro-services, containerisation, and rising customer and C-level executive adoption of subscription model services are a few examples.
Together, these advancements have produced a technological ecosystem in which cloud-based platforms, apps, and services have replaced fully owned server centers and office closets.
According to the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, the convergence of infrastructure deployment and TaaS will usher in a new era in technological advancement. It is a paradigm that will not only encourages growth and innovation but also makes cutting edge solutions more accessible to enterprises of all sizes, he affirmed.
“As the country embrace this transformative concept of leveraging infrastructure deployment to drive TaaS, it will propel it into a future where technological barriers are minimized, and possibilities are limitless,“ the EVC averred.
Maida who disclosed this at the Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 3.0), explained that the emergence of TaaS stands as a beacon of innovation, providing businesses with the tools to adapt, grow, and thrive in the ever-evolving dynamic environment.
The NCC boss who was represented at the event by the director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, alluded that through infrastructure deployment within the TaaS model, businesses have the power to access and utilize cutting-edge technology, catering to their needs without the shackles of long-term commitments or heavy investments.
The EVC pointed out that organizations can take advantage of cloud computing, edge computing, and other cutting-edge technologies by utilizing scalable and efficient infrastructure, adding that the dynamic nature of infrastructure deployment guarantees that companies have the right tools at the right time without being constrained by physical infrastructure.
He emphasised that the fundamental strength of TaaS is its capacity to completely transform the way technology is deployed. Previously, he said, organizations would have to deal with the difficulties of infrastructure ownership and management, which is frequently an expensive and inflexible undertaking.
“However, through infrastructure deployment within the TaaS framework, there is a paradigm shift where the burden of infrastructure ownership is alleviated, and the focus is shifted to accessibility, scalability, and service-oriented solutions,“ he posited
While noting that the significance of TaaS is underpinned by infrastructure deployment, Maida remarked that this marks a fundamental change in how businesses consume technology.
“It enables on-demand access to a vast array of technological resources and services, providing the flexibility to scale resources according to immediate needs, without the constraints of traditional ownership models. It is about unlocking the power of technology without being encumbered by the weight of infrastructure maintenance and management.
This innovative approach carries with it a multitude of benefits. Firstly, it diminishes the financial burden by transforming capital expenditures into operational costs. This allows businesses to redirect resources to innovation and growth rather than fixed infrastructure expenses.
“Secondly, it offers unparalleled agility, enabling organisations to pivot, expand, or contract rapidly in response to market demands. Moreover, Infrastructure Deployment within TaaS ensures that the latest technologies and updates are readily available, eliminating the overhead of constant maintenance and upgrades,” Maida stated.
With these benefits, Maida said, NCC is intensifying efforts to providing the necessary infrastructure for TaaS to thrive in Nigeria.
This is even as he disclosed that, “At the heart of the five pillars of the Strategic Blueprint of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is Infrastructure. The role of critical infrastructure in enabling TaaS cannot be overemphasized; it is thus the goal of the Commission to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2023 through the laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.
“In a similar vein, and in line with the vision of the Ministry, we are targeting the provision of coverage for at least 80 per cent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027.”
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To drive TaaS in Nigeria, the chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo averred that the issue of broadband must be addressed, to boost connectivity.
Adebayo, who was represented by Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga, said, “My submission as an association is that, if we are talking about technology, we have to address the issue of broadband penetration. I don’t think we are going anywhere if this is not addressed.
“The government has set the target for the broadband penetration but what is the driver? The Right-of-Way (RoW). The RoW in so many states in the country is very high. The government is talking about universal RoW of N145 per linear meter but at some state it is as high as N6000 per linear meter and this is disadvantageous to the ICT world because if we have to pay N6000 per linear meter, now calculate it if you want to do about 20 kilometer, we all know what that will translate to.”
Adebayo therefore appealed to the state government to make RoW a zero charge, so that, technology will open up the states because when the states are open for technology, it brings in more investors and dividend of digital economy would seen.
The publisher, techeconomy.com and the convener AfriTech 3.0, Peter Oluka, pointed out that among the innovative trends shaping the continent’s digital sphere, TaaS is one paradigm that stands out, transforming the way businesses and individuals, access and leverage technology solutions.
„TaaS represents a shift from traditional technology ownership models to on-demand, subscription-based services. Unlike the conventional approach of investing in costly hardware and software, TaaS allows businesses to access cutting-edge technologies, software applications, and infrastructure over the internet. This pay-as-you-go model not only reduces initial capital expenditure but also offers scalability, flexibility, and seamless integration—a boom for Africa’s emerging economy.
„Africa, with its diverse markets and fast-growing startups, has embraced TaaS with open arms. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are leveraging cloud computing, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) offerings to enhance their operational efficiency without the burden of heavy upfront costs. This approach has empowered businesses to focus on innovation and expansion, driving economic progress across the continent”, Oluka stated.
He however advocated for more deployment of tech infrastructures in rural areas to boost connectivity and usage of tech applications in those areas.
The executive secretary, Association of Telecommunications companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Ajibola Olude explained that apps are developed to solve socio-economic problems but those in rural areas most times are unable to use such applications because of lack of infrastructures.
Olude emphasized the need for deployment of more telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas stating that if the needed infrastructures are deployed in those areas, the economy can perform optimally. He also urged other sectors of the economy to latch on to the opportunities presented by technology in order to drive growth and development.
