The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of Nigerian Communications Commission [NCC], Prof Umar Danbatta, has unveiled an 8-point agenda for the information and communications technology [ICT] sector for a five-year period running from 2015 to 2020.
Addressing journalists in Lagos Wednesday, the NCC boss said the commission is driving a new vision targeted at promoting innovation, driving investment, promoting healthy competition and ensuring consumer empowerment.
This, he expected to be achieved in and on top of communications platforms of both the present and the future.
The commission, he said, is driven by the purpose of maximising the power of ICT in growing the nation’s economy, creating jobs and enhancing competitiveness. A critical element of the design, he said, is the deployment of broadband infrastructure to facilitate rollout of broadband services. This is expected to enhance network service quality to Nigerians.
The 8-point pillars are built on a tripod of availability of service, accessibility of service and affordability of service – which represents an ideological shift in creation of structures for social benefits and national development.
The 1st of the 8-point agenda is to facilitate broadband penetration through the provision and optimisation of access to and use of affordable fixed and mobile broadband everywhere in Nigeria. According to Danbatta, the licensing of broadband operators has commenced with north central zone and Lagos and the process of covering the remaining five zones of the federation is on.
The NCC boss said broadband is the way to go, being the next frontier in the ICT industry. His strategy in this direction is to facilitate availability of broadband services by promoting the development of universally, fast and reliable network infrastructures. This is expected to stimulate seamless broadband penetration to drive technology innovations and spur productivity in the economy.
Second on the agenda is to improve quality of service by ensuring the availability of reliable, interoperable and rapidly restorable ICT infrastructures that are supportive of all required services. Danbatta plans to achieve this by strengthening the quality of service regulation and facilitation of active infrastructure sharing among telecom operators.
The 3rd pillar on the 8-point agenda is to optimize usage and benefits of spectrum by maximising its availability in order to provide diverse and affordable ICT services without distorting market competition. Promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities is the 4th pillar on the agenda. NCC plans to promote innovation in the ICT sector in ways that will improve Nigeria’s ability to compete in the global economy, increase investments in the youth and encourage small-scale enterprises, Danbatta said.
The 5th element on the NCC agenda for the five-year period is facilitating strategic collaboration and partnership with relevant stakeholders. The NCC boss expects that this would foster sustainable economic and social development in the country. Next on the agenda is to protect and empower consumers from unfair practices through availability of information required to make informed choices in the use of ICT services.
Promoting fair competition and inclusive growth is the 7th point on the NCC agenda for the five year development period. Danbatta plans to accomplish this by creating a competitive market that includes all actors that can drive innovation, new investment, job creation and consumer satisfaction.
The last of the 8-point agenda is ensuring regulatory effectiveness and operational efficiency. Danbatta’s strategy to achieve this is to ensure strict compliance monitoring and effective regulatory enforcement as well as efficient management of resources.
The strategic vision 2015-2020 of the NCC is a response to the changing trend in the global economy, according to Danbatta, stating that the application of human knowledge and creativity has taken over the lead in wealth creation.
This development, he said, is reshaping the pattern of the world’s economic growth. With his 8-point agenda designed to address the development challenges facing the nation, Danbatta sets out to drive sustainable growth for the economy.
