The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, on Friday reiterated the Commissions’ determination in ensuring the provision of broadband infrastructure across the country to achieve last-mile connectivity.
He stated this at the 4th Quarter Seminar/Induction Ceremony of the Nigerian Information Technology Reporter’s Association (NITRA) held in Lagos under the theme: ‘Achieving Last-Mile Connectivity through Affordable Broadband’.
Prof. Danbatta’s reassurance was coming barely 48 hours the Commission announced that the Country has achieved 30.9% broadband penetration.
However, the EVC who was represented by the Deputy Director./ Head, Special Intervention (Projects), NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, noted that Nigerian Communications Commission will ensure the provision of broadband infrastructure across the country to achieve last-mile connectivity.
He added that Communications Sector is a catalyst that would provide the needed infrastructure that will enable other sectors of Business, Education, Health, Agriculture, Governance, Finance to thrive.
According to him, “the Communications Sector provides the infrastructure to enable other infrastructures in the different sectors of Business, Education, Health, Agriculture, Governance, Finance and so on.
“The importance of this sector has continued to enhance human capabilities such as healthy life, knowledge, creativity, collaboration, innovation, self-organization and participation in the social, economic and political life of the country as well as impact on economic growth through productivity gains.”
He also revealed that the commission’s activities have impacted on efficient improvements in service delivery that enable national development.
Danbatta explained that telecommunication acts as an enabler to drive socio-economic growth, developments and modernization across all sectors of the economy.
He added that robust and reliable telecoms service lies on adequate broadband infrastructure which will provide the needed impetus to achieve last mile connectivity.
He further stated that the Commission has made plans for massive deployment of 5G infrastructure in the country.
He said, “At the Stakeholders Consultative Forum on 5G Readiness and High Altitude Platform Station Technologies in Abuja recently, the Commission announced its plans for massive deployment of infrastructure for the new technology.
“5G has the potential to be transformational for communities in Nigeria because of the set high requirements for 5G networks: fast, ubiquitously available services provided by infrastructure deployed across all regions.
“The 5G technology has significantly faster speeds and more reliable connections on smartphones and other devices.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Mr Emma Okonji, said that broadband infrastructure is an enabler for economic and social growth in a digital economy.
He commended the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan for drawing up the National Broadband strategy for a work which gave the industry a sense of direction with regards broadband agenda.
He further commended NCC for achieving the 30.9% broadband penetration target that was set from 2013 to 2018.
Okonji extolled Danbatta’s passion for broadband development in the country, adding that it has further deepened broadband penetration and grew it to the 30.9 percent that we currently achieved.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Rack Centre, Dr. Ayotunde Coker,said that cloud technology will transform Nigeria and Africa if we deploy it in sachet format.
He added that Nigeria run what he called a sachet economy, where we buy things in sachet form, stressing that deploying cloud in sachet format will ensure that it gets to the citizenry easy and faster.
He noted that they are carrier neutral facility with all telcos and the widest range of ISPs.
Source: TechEconomy.ng