*Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission highlights proactive measures, and rallies industry stakeholders to further improve network expansion, Broadband connectivity, and excellent service quality to boost telecoms consumer experience, and the emerging Nigeria Digital Economy

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasised the significance of stakeholder partnerships and collaborations in attaining the Federal Government鈥檚 objective to attain improved network expansion, Broadband connectivity, and excellent service quality in the country鈥檚 telecoms space.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, noted this in his Keynote Address delivered at the recent launch of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Protection and Resilience Workshop, held in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in Abuja, FCT.

The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC) under the Office of Nigeria鈥檚 National Security Adviser, organised the workshop.

Maida stated that the workshop series involving the industry stakeholders would address the urgent to adequately safeguard the Nigerian CNII in order to 鈥渄rive the urgent implementation of the CNII Executive Order鈥�, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed recently.

Some factors affecting QoS, QoE and sustainable connectivity

Dr. Maida, at the event, identified some extant factors affecting the achievement of such much-needed considerable and sustainable connectivity to drive the Nigeria Digital Economy.

The EVC/CEO of the Commission, on the occasion of the launch of the CNII Protection and Resilience Workshop, also disclosed the Nigerian telecoms industry faces major challenges, including frequent fiber cuts, vandalism, theft, and restricted access to telecom facilities, among other issues undermining the network providers鈥� Quality of Service (QoS) and consumers鈥� Quality of Experience (QoE).

He averred that 鈥渢hese issues hinder network expansion, limit connectivity, and affect service quality. Let鈥檚 work together to safeguard our connectivity!鈥�

According to the NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, beyond vandalism and theft of critical information infrastructure, 鈥渞estricted access to telecoms facilities by property owners, communities, and government limits network expansion and maintenance.鈥�

Maida asserted: 鈥淭his hampers efforts to meet the growing demand for connectivity across Nigeria. Let鈥檚 bridge this gap!鈥�

Protection of CNII and NCC鈥檚 projections for Broadband penetration

Checks indicated the telecoms sector regulator鈥檚 data revealed Nigeria鈥檚 Broadband penetration stood at 41.56 percent as of September 2024, falling short of the ambitious 70 percent target, which the Commission has set for 2025.

鈥淎s we aim to achieve ambitious national targets, including a 70 percent Broadband penetration rate by 2025 and a 22 percent GDP contribution by 2027, we know that the protection of our CNII is not only essential but inevitable,鈥� Maida declared.

The Chief Executive of the Commission, therefore, rallied the industry stakeholders to collaborate in addressing identified limiting factors that have undermined Nigeria鈥檚 efforts at bridging the digital divide, and achieving a broader Broadband penetration.

As stated earlier, Maida鈥檚 leadership vision for the NCC is apparently focused on advancing collaborations with other critical sectors of the economy to drive innovation, efficiency, Quality of Service and consumers鈥� Quality of Experience.

The EVC/CEO of NCC, at another forum, recently assured the telecoms industry stakeholders that his leadership at the NCC would continue to encourage the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to seek 鈥渋nnovative ways to sustain their businesses鈥� while exploring a lasting solution to address their requests within the ecosystem.

On Nigeria鈥檚 $2bn fresh investment in terrestrial fibre optic backbone

In a bid to further unlock productivity and ensure diversification of the Nigerian economy, Dr. 鈥橞osun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, also has hinted at the Federal Government鈥檚 plan to invest $2 billion to deploy a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic project across the country.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Tijani disclosed this development during his recent visit to Kano State on a tour of the vandalised Digital Innovation Park (DIP) of the NCC by irate youths during the nationwide protest August 2024.

The Minister explained the fresh investment in the project is aimed at expanding fibre optic cable capacity from 35,000km to 125,000km, to enhance the terrestrial fibre optic backbone, and improve Broadband connectivity in the digital environment.

Underlining the benefits of the digital project, Dr. Tijani further stated the new investment in fibre optic cable capacity would herald considerable connectivity to telecoms consumers in communities, hospitals, and businesses, including agriculture in Nigeria.

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