TheNewsGuru

Tag: Broadband

  • Internet, active GSM, broadband subscriptions hit new high in Nigeria

    Internet, active GSM, broadband subscriptions hit new high in Nigeria

    Active GSM subscribers in Nigeria have increased from 184 million in December 2019 to 199.3 million in May 2020, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has said.

    Danbatta made the disclosure at the virtual launch/award ceremony of the COVID-19 Research Grant presented to three startups by the NCC on Tuesday Abuja.

    He further explained that internet subscription in the same period increased from 126 million to 147.1 million, while broadband subscription also increased from 72 million to 80.2 million, achieving a 42.02 per cent penetration in the country.

    Danbatta explained that the startups participated in a 3-month virtual hackathon with the theme Virtual Hackathon: “Adaptable Digital Solutions for Addressing the Present and Future Impact of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases from Technology Hubs, Startups and Innovation Digital SMEs in Nigeria”.

    “These may have given impetus to the possibility of holding virtual meetings and conferences on video technologies that are now providing social distancing solutions.

    “So, in whichever way we look at it, telecommunication has much more greater role to play than many other sectors of economy and the society.

    “Therefore, the challenge is for us to find a way to accentuate our local content solution, which is a blessing to us. We are pleased with the responses that we received on this initiative,” he said.

    Danbatta said that the NCC, has in the past two years managed similar ICT-based innovations and research competitions among tertiary institutions in the country, with potentials of improving local content solutions in the industry.

    “We should be bold enough as a country in adopting indigenous solutions. We must adopt and consume them. There should be less attention on imported goods.

    “It is evident that the entire globe is challenged about how best to tackle this pandemic. Telecommunications and ICTs have taken the centre stage in the provision or advancement of solutions.

    “We will all witness what digital solutions that today’s winners are going to bring to the table. Each of the Startups, or tech-hubs with promising innovative digital solutions against the pandemic will receive a grant of N3 million.

    “We have encouraged ICT innovations among the Nigerian youths whom we have regularly sponsored to various competitions organised by the International Telecommunications Union,” Danbatta said.

    Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who presented a N9 million COVID-19 research grants to the three promising startups, stressed that there was the need to adopt indigenous solutions to challenges in the country.

    Pantami also encouraged individuals to consume what the country produced and pay less attention to imported goods.

    “We need to produce what we need and consume what we produce, any country that remains a consumer nation will find it difficult to succeed,” he said.

    Dr Henry Nkemadu,NCC Director, Research and Development, said that there was the need to harness the potentials of technologies in order to address societal challenges and meet up to standard.

    Nkemadu explained that the Hackathon was designed to engage the startups to compete in a healthy manner to improve innovations.

    He noted that 298 submissions were received from startups of, which 56 qualified for the final stage of the evaluation process based on the selection criteria and later came up with three winners.

    “It is a national aspiration to spice some of these technologies with local content as a way of improving availability of local manpower and advancing ICT skills.

    “Technology has provided solutions to the challenge of weak public systems by providing solutions to the most challenges in education, health, financial and agricultural sectors,” he said.

    Each of the Startups, or tech-hubs with promising innovative digital solutions against the pandemic will receive a grant of N3 million

    The three winners included-Messers Primed E-Health, Messers Cyberfleet Intergrated Limited and Messers Elizade University.

  • NCC chairs ministerial broadband implementation steering committee

    NCC chairs ministerial broadband implementation steering committee

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been saddled with the responsibility of leading the team that will ensure effective monitoring and steering of the overall implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020-2025.

    This followed the designation of NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska, as the Chairman of the newly-inaugurated Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC) by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

    While inaugurating the inter-agency and multi-sectoral committee in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said the central responsibility and mandate of the Committee, which will have its secretariat in NCC, is to ensure “effective monitoring for implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP), 2020- 2025.”

    The Minister said the inauguration of the committee was part of the ongoing journey for a Digital Nigeria, which had received a boost since his assumption of office in August, 2019.

    “The journey started with the approval for the transformation of the ministry and its parastatals in October, 2019 from mere ICT institutions to digital economy institutions by the President. This was followed by the unveiling of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in November, 2019 and the development of a new NBP 2020-2025, which was launched by the President in March 19, 2020,” he said.

    He explained further that all the efforts were meant to put Nigeria on the global digital economy map, supported by robust broadband infrastructure. He noted that under the NDEPS, Solid Infrastructure components which is the 3rd pillar will provide the bedrock for the realization of the country’s digital economy vision.

    “In the new National Broadband Plan, there are many targets. Principal of which are to cover 90 per cent of Nigerian population with broadband access and 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. We also plan to achieve a broadband speed of 25 megabits per second (mbps) in urban areas and 10 mbps in rural areas by the end of implementation of the new Broadband plan,” Pantami said.

    While noting that the implementation of the new NBP had started fully and is resulting in the increase in broadband penetration currently at 40.14 percent, up from 35.10 per cent in August, 2019, the Minister said the ICT industry contributed 14.07 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2020. He noted that increased broadband penetration will help Nigeria to achieve increased GDP growth.

    The Minister, however, explained that problems of Right of Way, protection for telecom infrastructure and multiple taxations, which are critical to fast-track broadband infrastructure deployment and penetration are being addressed from all fronts. He added that the efforts are already yielding positive results with the engagement of relevant stakeholders including state government and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta commended the Minister for the inauguration of the committee and promised the support of the Commission towards realisation of the mandate of the Committee.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Engr. Maska, also assured the Minister of the Committee members’ readiness to deliver on the assignment.

    Also present at the inauguration are the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi; Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Dr. Abimbola Alale and Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammed Abubakar.

    The Committee draws membership from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and agencies under its supervision, Including the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), World Bank, Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), among others.

  • Nigerians to start enjoying Internet speed of 25 Mbps at N390 per 1GB

    Nigerians to start enjoying Internet speed of 25 Mbps at N390 per 1GB

    The federal government has designed a new broadband plan for Nigerians to start enjoying Internet speed of minimum 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population at a price not more than N390 per 1 GB of data.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a committee known as the Broadband Implementation Steering Committee to achieve this aim was inaugurated on Thursday by Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

    The Internet speed of 25 Mbps in the country means that Nigerians can have Internet fast enough to stream 4k videos without any buffering, about 15 people could happily watch a different Netflix film, and a company employing 40 people would not complain about the internet speed.

    The Broadband Implementation Steering Committee is expected to monitor the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) which was unveiled and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    According to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, in order to achieve the target, the broadband plan focused on recommendations in 4 critical pillars: infrastructure, policy/spectrum, demand drivers and funding/incentives.

    “The plan targets the deployment of nationwide fibre coverage to reach all State capitals, and a point of presence in at least 90% of Local Government Headquarters. It also targets tertiary educational institutions, major hospitals in each State and 60% of base stations by 2025 at statutory rates of N145/meter for Right of Way (RoW).

    “Our engagement with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has inspired several state governments to adopt the N145/meter and a few of these States have even waived the fee altogether. His Excellency, President Buhari, GCFR also directed the security agencies to protect all Critical National Infrastructure,” Pantami stated.

    The Minister highlighted a report by Ericsson titled “How Important Are Mobile Broadband Networks for Global Economic Development”, stressing that 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6% to 2.8% rise in gross domestic product (GDP).

    He stated that broadband supports the development of the digital economy and that a focus on growing the national digital economy will also improve the nation’s traditional economy.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the contribution of ICT to the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria was 14.07% in the 1st Quarter of 2020; this Pantami said was unprecedented and that it reflects how much of an impact technology, including broadband, can have on the economy, if channelled properly.

    “The growth that results from affordable and reliable broadband will enable us get a slice of the Global Digital Economy, which Oxford Economics values at $11.5 trillion dollars or approximately 16% of the Global Economy. This value is expected to grow significantly over the coming years.

    “The World Economic Forum predicts that over 60% of global GDP will be digitized by 2022 and that over the next decade, digital platforms will be used to create close to 70% of new value. Most nations are prioritizing the need to develop their digital economies because they realize the multiplier effect that this can have on all other sectors of the economy.

    “For instance, according to a 2018 Report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on “Defining and Measuring the Digital Economy”, the digital economy in the United States contributed 6.9% to the nation’s GDP in 2017. It also contributed 5.1million jobs in that year. The 2019 Digital Trade and U.S. Trade Policy also noted that almost two-thirds of all the jobs created in the United States since 2010 required medium or advanced levels of digital skills. In Nigeria, we are keen to develop a digital economy that will have a great impact on every sector of Nigeria’s economy.

    “The new broadband plan is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at a price not more than N390 per 1GB of data (2% of median income or 1% of minimum wage).

    “In order to achieve these ambitious targets, the plan focused on recommendations in 4 critical pillars, namely: Infrastructure, Policy/Spectrum, Demand Drivers, Funding/Incentives,” Pantami stated.

    Stressing further on the benefits of increased broadband penetration to the economy, the Minister said it impacts positively on jobs creation, sustainable economic growth and higher standard of living.

    He explained: “According to the Fibre to the Home Council Europe a 25 million EUR investment in information and communications technology (including smart grid and broadband) would create or retain 700,000 jobs, of which 360,000 would be small business jobs; Socio-economic development, leading to growth in e-health, e-education, e-government, etc;

    “According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Broadband Series, broadband contributes to economic growth through “(1) more efficiency in business processes, (2) acceleration of innovation by introducing new consumer applications and services (e.g. new forms of commerce and financial intermediation) and (3) more efficient functional deployment of enterprises by maximizing their reach to labour pools, access to raw materials, and consumers (e.g. outsourcing of services, virtual call centres)”.

  • Cheap broadband investment in Nigeria excites telecoms companies

    Cheap broadband investment in Nigeria excites telecoms companies

    The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), on Thursday commended Governors and Houses of Assemby of Imo and Ekiti states for the implementation of the approved Right-of-Way (ROW) price.

    Ajibola Olude, Secretary of the Association, gave the commendation in a statement in Lagos.

    He hailed the orders issued by Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo.

    The association noted that both states had approved right of way price from a high price to an industry and investment friendly price of N145 per liner meter approved by the Federal Government.

    “ATCON also appreciates these states for considering its letter which was sent to them in the beginning of the year recommending that telecom and ICT infrastructure must be seen and treated as a component of development in their respective states.

    “With this move by the governors, their leaderships have attested to the fact that the socio-economic development of their respective states is not mutually exclusive to broadband and ICT infrastructure development which has been one of the basis of our advocacy initiatives,” he said.

    He, however, stated that some of the benefits that are accruable to states that adopted and implemented the harmonised ROW price will unlock the inherent digital potential of the states.

    He said that such states were set to enjoy and maximise the opportunity that pervasive broadband penetration could offer as their people could now leverage on uninterrupted telecommunications services which were not enjoyed before.

    “The reason for this is that telecom infrastructure would give them the opportunity to express their gifts and talents.

    “Fast pace of development enabled by robust Telecom and ICT Infrastructure, the direct multiplier effect of this pragmatic executive order, is that these states will experience a noticeable development both in the private and public sectors.

    He added that it would push the revenue of the states forward.

    “It will also make companies that do not have presence in these states to consider opening a branch in the states which will lead to employment generation thereby reducing rural-urban migration,” he said.

    ATCON, therefore, advised other states yet to implement the approved harmonised ROW price of N145 per liner meter to take a cue from these states, to enable telecom and ICT infrastructure to speed up the needed development in Nigeria.

  • Kaduna surpasses Ekiti record for broadband investment, as more States join race

    Kaduna, Imo, Katsina and Plateau States have joined Ekiti State in implementing the right of way charges pegged at a maximum of N145 per linear metre as approved by the National Executive Council (NEC).

    Recall that Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi had signed an executive order reducing the right of way charges related to the laying of broadband or any other telecommunications infrastructures from N4,500 to N145 per meter.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the development made Ekiti the first State in Nigeria to comply with the NEC resolution, thus becoming the cheapest State for broadband infrastructure investment in Nigeria as 1km of cable will now cost just N145,000 as against N4.5m previously.

    However, the right of way charges in Kaduna have been completely waived, while Katsina, Plateau and Imo States joined Ekiti in pegging the charges at a maximum N145 per linear metre.

    Meanwhile, Dr Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has stated that the actions of the States Governors are commendable.

    He stated that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy was delighted to hear about the strides that have been made by the executive Governors.

    According to a statement by Dr Adeluyi, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo signed Executive Order No. 002, 2020, ratifying the federal government policy on the 20th of May 2020.

    The statement reads: “The actions of the Governors are truly commendable. They also align with the resolution of the State Governors under the auspices of the Governors’ Forum on the 22nd of January 2020 to address the lingering issue of Right of Way (RoW) charges in a bid to deepen broadband penetration in the country and promote a Digital Economy for a Digital Nigeria.

    “At that meeting the Executive Governors had resolved to adopt the 2013 resolutions reached by the National Economic Council (NEC) which agreed on a maximum RoW charge of N145 per linear meter of fibre. Implementing this resolution will go a long way in implementing the National Broadband Plan (NBP) which was launched by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on the 19th of March 2020.

    “An increase in broadband access will have a positive impact on the economy of the various States as well as the entire country. One of the key benefits is the rapid growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of any country that increases its broadband penetration. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how important broadband is in supporting economies around the world.

    “The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy congratulates and commends the Executive Governors of Kaduna, Imo, Katsina and Plateau States for these very important actions.

    “We would like to encourage other Executive Governors to do the same in order to support the development of our digital economy, facilitate digital literacy and accelerate broadband penetration across the country.

    “This will also improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”.

  • BREAKING: Ekiti becomes cheapest broadband investment hub in Nigeria

    Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has signed an executive order reducing the right of way charges related to laying broadband or any other telecommunications infrastructures from N4,500 to N145 per meter.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the development makes Ekiti the first State in Nigeria to comply with the National Executive Council (NEC) approved right of way charges for broadband thus becoming the cheapest State for broadband infrastructure investment in Nigeria as 1km of cable will now cost just N145,000 as against N4.5m previously.

    According to the State Governor, the executive order is part of the ongoing reforms by the ease of doing business project inaugurated by him last year to improve indices that will make Ekiti State an attractive destination for national and international investments in 5 years.

    “This decision will ensure Ekiti achieves full broadband penetration by 2021 to attract new businesses, create jobs, improve access to quality healthcare and digital education while improving internally generated revenue.

    “It is also aligned with the ongoing development of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, designed to be Nigeria’s first service based innovation park,” Governor Fayemi stated.

  • FG plans 90% broadband penetration in 5 years

    The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, said that the digital economy plan launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday aimed at extending broadband penetration to 90 per cent of Nigerians in five years.

     

    “This plan aims at providing broadband for 90 per cent of Nigerians over the next five years at download rates of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas.

     

    “The plan aims for a maximum price of N390 per gigabyte of data,” he explained.

     

    This was at the inauguration of four projects of the ministry, including the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) Annex, at Mbora district of Abuja by President Buhari.

     

    Pantami said the project of digitisation was imminent at the instance of corona virus outbreak in Nigeria.

     

    Pantami said that the projects were in line with the revised mandate of the ministry as a result of its redesignation, adding that they also aligned with the priorities of the Federal Government.

     

    He said that the implementation of the broadband would support the diversification efforts of the government.

     

    He further explained that digital economy was heavily reliant on the availability of cost effective broadband, among others.

     

    “The unfortunate realities of the COVID-19 has made it imperative to build and depend on a sector of the economy that is more resilient to global economic shocks than the oil sector,” he said.

     

    On his part, Executive vice chairman, NCC , Prof. Umar Danbatta reiterate that with the Federal Government’s support, increasing broadband penetration would facilitate the efficiency of the Emergency Communication centre (ECC) and development of digital innovation.

     

    Danbatta described the launch of the projects as a reflection of growth and development in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

     

    He said that the projects commenced with the National Telecom Policy and the full liberalisation of the telecommunications industry.

     

    According to him, the NCC has also facilitated the establishment of the Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) across the Country.

     

    “The establishment of the ECCs is in line with the Commission’s mandate under section 107 of NCA 2003, to promote and enhance public safety through the use of a particular number designed as the universal safety.

     

    “Consequently, the NCC allocated the Toll-Free 3-digit number ‘112’ as the Universal Emergency Communications telephone number in Nigeria.

     

    “Through this dedicated number, members of the public can conveniently access help when in distress by simply dialling 112 from any of the networks at no cost.

     

    “This toll-free number can help distressed persons access help from the Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Fire and Ambulance Services, National Emergency Management Agency.”

     

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects include: unveiling of Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, official commissioning of the communications centre and 112 toll-free number,

     

    There was also the flag off of the digital inovation and entrepreneurship training.

     

    NAN also reports that the ministry has commenced the establishment of an Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) in each of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

  • NCC advocates broadband development to drive industrial revolution

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for broadband development to drive 4th Industrial Revolution in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the country.

    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made this assertion during the 2019, 7th Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The theme of the three-day conference is “Africa’s Tech Renaissance: Positioning Africa for the Age of Abundance”.

    Danbatta, who was represented by Mrs Iyabo Solanke, Director of Research and Development, said that Africa needed to be part of the 4th Industrial Revolution as she missed out on the previous great leaps in human innovation.

    The chairman said that the commission was trying to see how broadband availability and accessibility would be accelerated in Nigeria.

    He advised students in the country to be ICT complaint and take the matter of technology seriously as there was a correlation between the levels of technological advancement with economic development.

    According to him, it is time for Africa to make the right choices in order to be able to create and enjoy abundance here in Africa and be truly a part of the world.

    “We are encouraging the academia to improve what will develop the telecommunications industry in the country.

    ”We encourage the academia to be research based because they cannot develop without proper research activities.

    “In this knowledge based environment that we are, we need students that are ICT complaint. The commission as part of its social responsibility provided some ICT facilities to schools so that they will learn,” he said.

    In his remarks, Dr Isa Pantami, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), called on all the ICT stakeholders to come together, support and deliver the mandate of the Industry.

    Pantami said that NITDA had developed a strategic road map with seven pillars namely: cyber regulation, cyber security, capacity building, digital inclusion, digital doc creating,
    Local point promotion and development and digital services for working and development accordingly.

    He described data as the new oil and encouraged Nigerians to be focused more on data, adding that other countries in this age and time do not talk about mineral resources and natural resources anymore.

    The director general said that other countries have moved from natural based resources to digital based economy, adding that a time would come when relying solely on the natural resources would not sustain the economy of the country.

    According to him, if data is utilised effectively, it is the new oil. Most people in the world are talking about digitisation and utilising data as the new oil.

    “It is no more about natural resources or mineral resources but ICT. Most of the leading companies today in the world are not in any way natural resources company, they are more of data or digital companies.

    “We need to think outside the box to see how we can support and develop our local content in the country.

    “The earlier we realise this in Nigeria or Africa, the better for us,” Pantami said.

    The Chairman, Digital Africa, Dr Evans Woherem, explained that the idea of the conference was to stretch the minds of Nigerians to realise that things could be done a lot better than they were done.

    According to Woherem, there are some technologies that are now very topical and are also helping with regards to the digitalisation of countries.

    “Those technologies are called exponential technology; they don’t make you go sequential. They do not make you go arithmetically. They make you develop geometrically

    “You cannot be doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. The world is shifting and the world is now highly digitised.

    “Countries that want to succeed even in the new era that we are moving into are realising that they have to be digitized. There are very many possibilities of what we can do to developing our content”

    The yearly digital Africa conference and exhibition is to showcase and sensitise the entire Africa.

  • Facebook, MainOne to accelerate broadband penetration in Edo, Ogun

    Facebook says it has collaborated with MainOne on metro fiber infrastructure project, toward accelerating broadband penetration in Edo and Ogun.

    Ibrahima Ba, Network Investments Lead for Emerging Markets at Facebook, made this known on Tuesday in Lagos.

    He said that the infrastructure collaboration was part of Facebook’s efforts to connect more people to broadband internet.

    Ba said that as part of the project, MainOne was building and operating approximately 750 km terrestrial fiber infrastructure in Edo and Ogun.

    He said that these open-access transport networks would provide metro fiber connectivity to reach more than one million people in Benin City, Abeokuta, Sagamu and 10 other towns.

    According to him, the metro fiber connectivity will connect mobile operators’ base stations, Internet Service providers (ISP), Points of Presence (POPs) and public locations including schools and hospitals.

    “This partnership will leverage MainOne’s strength as a wholesale telecommunications infrastructure service provider with investment from Facebook and support from local regulatory and state authorities to further deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria.

    “We are working closely with MainOne and other partners to accelerate broadband deployment.

    “In Nigeria, we are bringing together Facebook’s learnings from scaling our global infrastructure with MainOne’s knowledge of the local environment to develop and test new working models for multiple operators to access common infrastructure,’’ he said in a statement.

    MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke commended the collaboration and the commitment of Facebook and authorities in Nigeria to improving broadband penetration across the country.

    “MainOne has always been committed to broadband innovation, job creation, as well as growing the digital economy of West Africa.

    “We believe that this partnership and the open-access network we have developed will be beneficial to improving the quality of access and accelerating the digital transformation in Ogun and Edo,’’ Opeke said.

     

  • FG urges stakeholders to support 2019-2023 national broadband plan

    FG urges stakeholders to support 2019-2023 national broadband plan

    The Minister of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu, has urged stakeholders in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector to support the Nigerian National Broadband Council with credible suggestions toward the development of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2019–2023.

    The minister’s request is in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Mr Bolaji Kazeem in Abuja on Friday.

    Kazeem said that the minister stressed the need for sustainable broadband capacity that could drive the country’s socio-economic activities.

    He quoted the minister as saying “there is enormous need for sustainable broadband capacity to improve quality of services.

    “The Nigerian National Broadband Council has been reviewing the progress made so far, and has identified areas of programme adjustment to permit the realisation of new and emerging opportunities.

    “Such areas of review are: development of an Integrated National Broadband Backbone, development of National Policy on Open Access and the constitution of Inter-Ministerial Committee on ICT Convergence and related issues.

    “Others are engagement of strategic partners on specific issues such as funding, tax waivers and participation of stakeholders in the review process through suggestions to improve on the new strategy document.’’

    According to the minister, Nigeria has been improving its use of ICT enabled services to drive socio-economic activities.

    He added that the Nigerian National Broadband Council was established to provide periodic evaluation of progress, facilitate coordination and collaboration, as well as highlight areas of programme adjustment to permit the realisation of emerging opportunities.

    Shittu said that the Ministry of Communications had developed critical policy documents to guide interested investors and industry players to engender trust.

    “Some of the policy documents include the e-Government Masterplan, the Local Content Guideline, and ICT Roadmap,’’ he added.