The Nigeria Communications Commission(NCC), in keeping with its mandate, has engaged its licensees at the the first `Talk-To-The Regulator(TTTR) Forum’ to brainstorm on ways to facilitate the achievement of 90 per cent broadband penetration by year 2025.
The executive vice chairman/CEO, NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, at the forum on Thursday in Bayelsa state, averred that, the gathering was an opportunity for the commission to interact with its licensees on industry issues and new trends, with a view to gathering relevant information that would further advance the development of the industry.
Speaking on the milestones recorded in the telecom industry, Danbatta revealed that the sector has witnessed milestones in more ways than one, including the rapid growth in technology, which is redefining service delivery, and creating wide and high expectations from all stakeholders.
To keep up to date with developments in the industry, the commission has equally taken measures to improve regulations to accommodate the rapid and continuous development, the vice chairman disclosed, while listing some of the interventions and responses of the commission to include; the facilitation of the Roll-Out of 5G service provision; introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Licence to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved areas and the current review of the scope and structure of its existing licenses to make them more robust.
In line with the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020 – 2025), Danbatta disclosed that NCC is providing industry leadership to facilitate the achievement of 90 per cent Broadband penetration by year 2025, and well above 50 per cent at the end of 2023, adding that currently I50 million Nigerians have access to internet, while over 80 million can access high speed internet.
He averred that the TTTR Forum is a common platform for non-discriminatory interaction on a one-on-one basis, between the Licensees and the Regulator on several industry issues, pertinent to the Licensees and of national interest, even as he appealed to stakeholders to provide feedback and proffer possible solutions that would address the concerns that might be raised during the interactive sessions.
