TheNewsGuru

Tag: Umar Danbatta

  • Why Nigeria needs to intensify support, invest in data centres

    Why Nigeria needs to intensify support, invest in data centres

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) says it is imperative for the country to sharpen its focus on broadband development and intensify support for data centre services to boost digital sovereignty.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umaru Danbatta, said this on Thursday during the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) 4.0 organised by Business Remarks in Lagos.

    The theme of the event was: “Mainstreaming Data Centres in the Nigerian Digital Economy.”

    Danbatta, who was represented by Dr Sunday Atu, Head, Tariff Administration NCC, said mainstreaming data centres required collective efforts.

    According to him, there is need for support to ensure data centres not only operate to guarantee national digital sovereignty, but also prioritise contents reflecting the country’s cultural norms, contexts and ideological values.

    He said data was regarded as the new oil globally with increasing intensity in the context of the emerging digital economy.

    For that reason, Danbatta explained that data had become a subject of special consideration by regimes, requiring appropriate structures and frameworks to truly tap and optimise the opportunities provided by this new order.

    Danbatta noted that data centre services, no doubt, held the keys to the ultimate crystallisation of the new line of thinking within the ICT sector and by extension to the greater national economy of nations in so many ways.

    “Recent developments point to the limitless treasure within this space. Africa has recently assumed a new frontier and compelling destination for global big tech players.

    “Tech giants, like Google with its Equiano subsea fibre cable spanning 15,000 km from Portugal to South Africa and strategic landing points in Nigeria and Namibia, are expected to increase connectivity more than five-fold within Nigeria while creating an expected 1.6 million jobs.

    “Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is equally on the threshold of launching its own subsea cable called 2Africa in 2024 to connect 16 African countries at an estimated cost of 1 billion dollars.

    “It is targeted to generate close to 36 billion dollars of economic output within two to three years of operation.

    “While these, no doubt, portend significant socio-economic impacts for Nigeria, they bring to the fore the debate around digital sovereignty and the need for national policy and regulatory frameworks to further localise traffic and data,” he said.

    According to Danbatta, the global data centre market is worth billions of dollars, and Nigeria is well-positioned to attract a fair share of this investment.

    He explained that by providing a reliable and secure environment for the services they offer within a well nurtured policy and regulatory framework, Nigeria would represent an attractive destination for more investment in data centre services and operations.

    “With the commencement of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the role and critical nature of data centres become increasing overwhelming.

    “This is underscored by the kind of efficiency derivable when critical resources are shared at costs far significantly smaller than the actual costs of setting up such resources from scratch,” Danbatta said.

    He said this would provide a veritable platform for greater productivity for businesses and public sector entities to effectively harness the opportunities to be unlocked from the estimated 1.2 trillion dollars latent treasure within the AfCFTA block through its 1.3 billion people.

    In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Data Centre Ltd., Ikechukwu Nnamani, said: “If we look at other parametres

    Nigeria should be at the fore front of data centre industry in Africa.

    “Unfortunately we are lagging behind and surprisingly African countries like South Africa and Egypt are way ahead of Nigeria.

    He explained that from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) point, broadband connectivity, and in terms of mobile subscription, Nigeria had significantly lower figures than other African countries.

    Nnamani stressed the need for Nigeria to be put in its rightful position as the giant of Africa, not just in terms of population, but also in the area of quality of life of citizens, GDP and the digital benefits.

    Also speaking , Bukola Olanrewaju, the convener of TSSF stressed the pivotal role data centres played in the digital era, saying beyond data storage and accessibility, they underpinned the digital world, fuelling economic growth, environmental sustainability and data security.

    Olanrewaju said currently, there were only 86 colocation data centres in 15 African countries, with the majority concentrated in the big four African countries, which included South -Africa , Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya.

    She said according to Allied Market Research, the global data centre market was valued at 187.35 billion dollars in 2020 and was anticipated to reach 517.17 billion by 2030.

    According to Olanrewaju, data centres, alongside fibre optic broadband expansion and telecom towers, are poised to become the new backbone of Africa’s economic growth.

  • Excitement as NCC doles out smartphones to telecoms consumers

    Excitement as NCC doles out smartphones to telecoms consumers

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Thursday doled out smartphones in a raffle draw to the excitement of telecoms consumers in the federal capital territory (FCT).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Commission also doled out free airtime of different networks to telecoms consumers in an event that was held in the venue of the Abuja International Trade Fair.

    Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, expressed delight to be part of the 18th Abuja International Trade Fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

    Represented by Mr Umar Alkasim, NCC’s Director in charge of Consumer Affairs, Danbatta said the Commission has leveraged the trade fair platform over the years to engage telecoms consumers and business owners, who are based in various regions of the country.

    “Partnering with ACCI through our Special “NCC Day” event is a pleasure for us at the Commission, as it usually provides a veritable platform for interaction with telecoms stakeholders, especially our esteemed telecoms consumers,” Danbatta said.

    Describing the theme of the trade fair: ‘Sustainable Financing and Taxation’ as “very apt and timely”, the NCC EVC noted that the Commission recognizes the fact that the telecommunications sector has been a strategic driver of the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government.

    He stressed the telecommunications industry plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing the quality of life for citizens across the globe, adding that the Commission will continue to provide the needed digital stamina to support the economy, especially through technology.

    “As the telecommunications regulator in Nigeria, we bear the responsibility of ensuring the sustainability and vitality of the sector.

    “It is no longer news that telecommunications empowers individuals, connects businesses, strengthens industries and enables governments to provide essential services efficiently thereby driving development and prosperity.

    “Information Communications Technology (ICT) is not only one of the fastest growing industries – directly creating millions of jobs – but it is also an important enabler of innovation and development, as it provides the backbone infrastructure for transactional business and taxation for Government.

    “However, maintaining this digital infrastructure and its continued growth necessitates substantial investment. Sustainable financing in telecommunication involves sourcing the necessary capital to build and maintain robust telecommunications networks.

    “As regulators, we understand that this financing should be stable, accessible and conducive for industry growth. Taxation while essential for funding of Government initiatives must strike a delicate balance between revenue generation and industry growth.

    “Our role as regulator, is to advocate for fair taxation practices that do not stifle innovation or place undue burden on consumers.

    “We acknowledge the intricacies of tax policies but emphasize the importance of creating an environment where telecommunications companies can thrive.

    “To address these challenges the Commission continuously engage both the Federal and State Government on the need to harmonize taxation in the telecommunications sector.

    “NCC’s regulatory efforts in deepening access to digital services will benefit Nigeria and make it competitive comparable with other economies in the areas of job creation; contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth; emergence of new services and industries; workforce transformation; and business innovation.

    “It is in our response to ensuring that Nigeria is competitive in all these areas that the Commission continuously puts a number of regulatory measures in place to ensure seamless access by Nigerians to telecommunications services in order to deepen competitiveness of the Nigerian economy by making our businesses and industries digitally compliant,” Danbatta said.

    Nigeria’s active mobile subscribers hit 220m – NCC

    Speaking further, the NCC boss disclosed that the number of active mobile subscriptions in the country has reached 220,715,961 million as of August 2023.

    Danbatta said the number of active internet subscribers was 159,034,717 million, with broadband penetration at 45.57 per cent as of August 2023.

    He said that the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses depended on their ability to leverage new technologies by acquiring the necessary digital skills to do business on an international scale.

    Danbatta said: “In Nigeria today, the number of active mobile subscriptions reached 220,715,961 million as at August 2023, while Teledensity stood at 115.63 per cent at the same period.

    “Also, the number of active Internet subscribers was 159,034,717 Million with broadband penetration at 45.57 per cent as of August 2023.

    “In this new environment, the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses depends on their ability to leverage on new technologies by acquiring the necessary digital skills to do business on an international scale.

    “This in turn benefits the economy financially.”

    To sustain the steady growth of the telecoms sector, Danbatta said that NCC would continue to create a conducive environment.

    He said that an environment that would stimulate deployment of robust broadband infrastructure to improve the Quality of service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for telecom consumers, be it individuals or corporates.

    “This is because, as a country, we need robust telecoms infrastructure that will help our industries transit to becoming Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven, if we hope to be digitally competitive on the global stage,” Danbatta said.

    Earlier, the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr Umar Alkasim, reiterated that NCC’s commitment was to ensure fair competition and a level playing field for all stakeholders in the telecommunication industry.

    Alkasim, represented by Head, Consumer Policy Development and Monitoring, NCC, Mr Ayanbanji Ojo, said that the commission was safeguarding the interest of consumers from abuse of their rights and privileges against unfair practices in the telecom service value chain.

    “This commitment is demonstrated by the commission’s continuous effort to establish seamless programmes that would Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE Mandate) telecom consumers through various consumer-centric initiatives,” he said.

    TNG reports the raffle draw winning ticket numbers are 029, 140, 438, 364, 268, 443, 056 and 039. Raffle draw ticket number 252 was disqualified. The winners were gifted smartphones.

  • Danbatta reels out achievements in NCC

    Danbatta reels out achievements in NCC

    The national target to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025 is receiving renewed attention from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which promises 50 per cent before the end of 2023.

    This promise was one of the highlights of the special media chat with executive editors and media chiefs in the northern part of the country, hosted by the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, to unveil his achievements since the resumption of office till date.

    At the occasion, where Danbatta informed the media chiefs that Fifth Generation (5G) services subscriptions have already hit half a million in subscription, the various efforts of the Commission to improve broadband penetration are yielding fruitful results with the current estimates as at July 2023 standing at 47.01 per cent.

    Using the extant reviewed five-pillar Strategic Vision Plan as building block, the EVC spoke to 119 milestones achieved under the five strategic pillars, including regulatory excellence, universal broadband, market development, digital economy and strategic collaboration.

    Danbatta said through effective implementation of NCC’s mandates under his leadership and cooperation of internal and external stakeholders since 2015, telecommunications industry in Nigeria has achieved remarkable milestones under our leadership. “While we acknowledge the challenges encountered by the industry, we have also witnessed explosive growth, improved regulatory standards, and digital innovations that have garnered global recognition,” he said.

    While reeling out impressive statistics that have characterized his leadership at NCC from 2015 to date, the EVC said active telephone subscribers had increased from less than 150.7 million to 218.9 million, representing a teledensity growth of 115.70 per cent from 107.87 per cent in 2015.

    Through stimulating broadband infrastructure across the country, Danbatta said broadband penetration, which stood at 6 per cent in 2015 has increased significantly to 47.01 per cent as of July, 2023, enhancing over 89.73 million subscriptions on 3G, 4G and 5G networks in the country. Additionally, general Internet subscriptions have reached 159.5 million up from less than 100 million in 2015.

    “Also, from 8 per cent contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015, telecommunications sector now contributes 16 per cent quarterly to the Nigerian economy as of the second quarter of 2023. besides, following the authorization of more telecommunications companies to operate in the Nigeria’s telecoms sector, the investments profile has increased tremendously from $38 billion in 2015 to $75 billion currently and this keeps growing daily. From the sales of Fifth Generation (5G) C-Band Spectrum, the NCC has generated over $847.8 million for the Federal Government,” he said.

    Danbatta, who has received a gallery of awards nationally, regionally and globally in recognition of the outstanding performance of Nigeria’s telecom industry also listed several achievements recorded since 2015.

    “Other milestones and initiatives recorded aside the regulatory activities that culminated in the landmark launch of 5G services in Nigeria include the introduction of Spectrum Trading Guidelines, re-farming and re-planning certain spectrum band for efficiency, the emplaced collaborative process for the release of C-Band Spectrum by Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited, and introduction of the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS) to address revenue leakages and improve government revenue from the telecoms industry.

    “These initiatives also include Licensing of Satellite Earth Stations, issuing of operating licence to SpaceX Satellite, facilitating the landing of additional submarine Cables, such as the Google 2,000km Equiano subsea Internet cable in 2022, listing of MTN on the Nigerian bourse, licensing of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), introduction of new unlicensed millimeter wave spectrum, and regulation of white space spectrum,” Danbata said.

    Also as part of NCC’s commitment under Danbatta’s leadership, the Commission has endowed professorial chairs in Nigerian universities and committed over N500 million naira to Research and Development (R&D) in the telecoms sector. “The creation of the Digital Economy Department, the mandate to drive the implementation of the indigenous telecoms sector growth through the operation of the Nigeria Office for Developing Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS), are also important strides made by the Commission,” he said.

    Danbatta said other consumer-focused initiatives of the Commission have also centered on the establishment of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) in over 30 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). All these centres are operational, as well as the creation of the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT). The EVC said these two initiatives have been helping consumers to  get succour in times of emergencies as well as ensuring effective protection for telecom consumers while online.

    The NCC Chief Executive said the Commission has also taken very clear actions on consumer protection, advocacy, information-sharing and education. “These include introduction of data roll-over just before the expiration of subscribed data plans, introduction of the 622 toll-free number for lodging service-related complaints to the Commission, the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 Short Code for tackling the menace of unsolicited text messages,  elimination of forceful/deceitful subscriptions to telecom services on mobile networks, tackling the issue of call masking, ensuring effective Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration, launching of National Roaming service and reduction of access gaps to telecom services from over 217 to 97, thereby enhancing access to telecom services by more Nigerians,” Danbatta said.

    However, Danbatta said while the industry still faces a number of challenges such as vandalism, securing equitable Right of Way (RoW) from governmental stakeholders, as well as multiple taxation and regulation, the Commission has put framework in place to work with necessary stakeholders to overcome the obstacles possed by these challenges and to sustain the growth trajectory which has been the hallmark of telecoms sector as an enabler of socio-economic development in Nigeria.

  • Nigeria ranks 11th in internet penetration globally

    Nigeria ranks 11th in internet penetration globally

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says Nigeria is rated eleventh in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage globally.

    Danbatta made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry on Thursday in Abuja.

    The theme of the two-day forum is: “Contextualising the Network Readiness Index (NRI) for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry”.

    The EVC, represented by Mr Abraham Oshadami, Head, Spectrum Database Management, NCC,  said the global data collected by the NRI team revealed digital transformation was global imperative in order to maximise social and economic effects of digital era.

    He said the NIR explored the performances of 131 economies in four categories, which include: Technology (infrastructure), governance, people, and impact.

    The NCC boss said: “Nigeria is a telecommunications powerhouse, with 82 per cent of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29 per cent of the continent’s internet consumption.

    “Our nation rates eleventh globally in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage.

    “The global data collected by the NRI team reveals that digital transformation is a global imperative in order to maximize the social and economic effects of the digital era.

    “Despite these remarkable metrics, the fact that our Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries is both humbling and challenging.”

    Danbatta said as agents of social and economic transformation in the nation, prioritising network readiness was not only a strategic necessity but a mandate.

    “It can create new inequalities which can hinder the ability of younger generations to engage in the digital economy, but also remains a powerful way to do more with less at all levels of income.

    “Formal education is evolving, and metrics are important to support informed policymaking.

    “This requires reskilling and upskilling opportunities to be available, accessible, and affordable in order to have more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies.

    “The NRI is a guiding metric that measures the role and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    “To navigate this era of transformation, we must embrace innovation, make strategic investments, and cultivate a growth-friendly ecosystem,” Danbatta added.

    He further called on the stakeholders to grasp the opportunity to investigate emerging technologies, envisage their potential applications, and determine how they can leverage to solve specific challenges.

    Danbatta added: “This platform is our gateway to innovative and disruptive solutions that can positively transform our industry.

    “By engaging in conversations about new technologies, collaborating with global best practices and subject-matter experts, and pooling our insights, we open the door to unimaginable future possibilities.”

    Earlier, Dr Chidi Diugwu, Head, New Media and Information Security, NCC, in his opening remarks urged the stakeholders to embrace insights offered by NRI to guide policies, investments and collaborations.

    Diugwu said this would enable the nation to harness the potentials of emerging technologies, investing in human capital, and fostering innovation.

    This, he added, would lead to the unlocking of new opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and create a prosperous and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.

    Diugwu added: “As we move forward, let us embrace the insights offered by the NRI to guide our policies, investments, and collaborations to enable us harness the potentials of emerging technologies,

    “Investing in human capital, and fostering innovation that will unlock new opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and create a prosperous and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.”

    In his remarks, the Executive-Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC , Ubale Maska, said NRI was a strong indicator of how the country was adapting to the digital transformation happening all over the world.

    He said: ”NRI is a strong indicator of how the country is adapting to the digital transformation that is happening all over the world, and will help us access our progress and position on the global digital train.

    “This forum seeks to examine the different barriers and key drivers of emerging technologies as far as the Nigerian telecommunications industry is concerned.”

  • NCC considers ethical energy sourcing for telecoms sector

    NCC considers ethical energy sourcing for telecoms sector

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it is mulling over the idea of introducing a framework to encourage ethical energy sourcing in the telecommunications sector.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this in a speech at a roundtable with the academia, industry chiefs and other stakeholders in Kano on Wednesday.

    The theme of the event is “Refocusing academic research toward Alternative Clean Energy: Panacea to paucity of energy in the telecommunications industry”.

    Danbatta said that the framework would serve as a guide for telecom service providers to adopt clean and sustainable energy sources, reducing their carbon footprints and contributing to greener future.

    He expressed the belief that the policy would not only benefit the environment but drive innovation and create new business opportunities in the industry.

    He, however, said that to achieve the objective would require collaboration with the academia and other stakeholder, who are encouraged to contribute through research findings.

    Danbatta said that the commission needed the expertise, knowledge and insight of the academia and other stakeholders to guide it in developing feasible alternative sources of clean energy that the industry can leverage for a sustainable energy supply.

    “We aim to refocus future academic research towards feasible alternative sources of clean energy that can be harnessed by the telecom industry.

    “It is essential to identify and explore new technologies, such as solar, wind and biomass that can power our communications infrastructure efficiently and sustainably.

    “We need your research to help us understand the potentials of these alternative energy sources, address their challenges and develop strategies for their implementation in the telecom sector,” Danbatta said.

    He further said that the sector was at the forefront of digital transformation and that the potentials to enhance the livelihood of the citizens must be harnessed by promoting research in the academia.

    He expressed the confidence that the discussions and ideas shared at the meeting would serve as a catalyst for transformative research and innovation in the sector.

  • NCC raises alarm over fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating EVC

    NCC raises alarm over fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating EVC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has drawn the attention of the public to a fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating the person, and office of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.

    This is contained in a statement released on Friday by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs.

    According to the statement, the LinkedIn account “was obviously created by some unscrupulous and criminal elements with a view to defrauding unsuspecting members of the public and users of social media who may think that such an account belongs to the EVC of NCC”.

    The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the EVC/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has no LinkedIn Account. Therefore, any such account found on social media or any other platform, purporting to belong to the EVC of NCC, is fake!

    “We are working with appropriate security agencies to investigate the source of this fraudulent act with a view to nipping it to the bud.

    “We urge members of the public, and our esteemed stakeholders to be cautious, and vigilant, while on social media platforms, or in the cyberspace as many of these fraudulent individuals and groups abound, looking for unsuspecting users to defraud.

    “The Commission has a presence on the Internet with the official website (www.ncc.gov.ng), and key social media platforms. All information about our activities, programmes and reports are verifiable on our website and on our verified social media handles.

    “We also encourage everyone to follow our official social media accounts for credible updates and announcements.

    “Members of the public are advised to be carefully guided when accessing or using information from social media”.

  • NCC calls for collective effort to combat e-fraud

    NCC calls for collective effort to combat e-fraud

    The Nigerian Communication Commission ( NCC) says combatting e-fraud on telecom platforms and building consumer confidence in the digital economy require a collective effort.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, said this during the 2nd Quarter 2023 Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

    Danbatta said telecom operators, regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies and consumers must collaborate, with each fulfilling their responsibilities to tackle e-fraud.

    He said e-fraud encompassed a wide range of malicious activities carried out via electronic means, including identity theft, phishing, hacking, and unauthorised access to personal and financial information, with the intention to defraud or take advantage of victims.

    Danbatta noted that these criminal activities might not only cause significant financial losses but also erode consumer trust in the digital ecosystem.

    He said in recent years, Nigeria had witnessed remarkable growth in the digital economy, revolutionising the way Nigerians communicated and conducted businesses.

    Danbatta noted that the telecom sector played a pivotal role in enabling this digital transformation, providing the infrastructure and connectivity that fueled the interconnected world.

    He, however, said the advancements came with new challenges, one of which was the rising tide of e-fraud and cybersecurity concerns.

    He said NCC as the regulator of the communications sector had a crucial role to play in combatting e-fraud.

    Danbatta added that to further protect telecom consumers, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) periodically notified telecom consumers on the latest cybersecurity threats and how to avoid falling victim to them.

    “The NCC also type-approves communications equipment to ensure that they conform to global standards and are interoperable with various relevant technologies.

    “We must establish comprehensive legal frameworks and standards that mandate sound security practices for telecom operators.

    “The legal framework must focus on data protection, privacy and incident response, ensuring that operators are held accountable for any lapses in security on their respective networks,” he said.

    According to him, law enforcement agencies must also collaborate closely with telecom operators and regulatory bodies to investigate and prosecute e-fraud perpetrators.

    He noted that enhanced coordination, information sharing, and dedicated cybercrime units would go a long way in deterring criminals and bringing them to justice.

    Danbatta added that strengthening international cooperation in combating cross-border e-fraud was also imperative, as cybercriminals often exploited jurisdictional limitations.

    He said combatting e-fraud was not just the responsibility of industry stakeholders and authorities, but equally that of consumers too.

    “Building consumer awareness and promoting digital literacy is crucial to empowering individuals to protect themselves.

    “Telecom operators should educate their customers about potential risks, provide guidance on secure online practices and offer user-friendly tools to monitor and manage their accounts,” he said.

    He stressed that to build consumer confidence in the digital economy, telcos must emphasise transparency and accountability.

    Danbatta urged telecom operators to be transparent about their security measures, privacy policies and incident response mechanisms.

    He added that collaboration with third-party security firms and independent audits could also help validate the integrity of telecom platforms.

    Danbatta also said fostering innovation in security technologies was critical to staying ahead of e-fraudsters.

    According to him, investing in robust security infrastructure, implementing stringent protocols, promoting awareness and by fostering innovation telcos could create a safer digital ecosystem.

    “We need to rise to the challenge and build a future where the telecom platform is not only a gateway to the digital world but also a fortress against e-fraud,” Danbatta said.

    Similarly, the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau at NCC, Mr Alkasim Umar, said e-fraud posed a significant threat to the society, as it undermined the trust and confidence in our digital platforms.

    He said the menace was also responsible for hampering economic growth and adversely impacting the lives of citizens.

    Umar said as the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the telecommunications industry, the NCC would continue to perform its duty in protecting the interest of consumers.

    Also, Mr Emeka Akpa, the Chairman of ICAF, said fraud had escalated as a result of increased digital adoption.

    He noted that the situation required organisations to simultaneously combat fraud and provide customers with a seamless digital experience.

    Akpa said faster movement of money had also increased the risk of fraud, adding that real-time disbursements were set to double within the year and beyond.

    “Risk rises further when unsuspecting customers inadvertently share their authentication details with fraudsters targeting their devices and accounts.

    “The evolution of fraud threats has undermined the effectiveness of a reactive approach to combating fraud, which essentially focuses on stopping schemes one by one through manual reviews,” he said.

  • Nigeria’s telecom access gaps drop by 53%

    Nigeria’s telecom access gaps drop by 53%

    The number of identified areas of clusters across Nigeria without access to the telecommunications services has been reduced by 53.1 per cent as at the end of 2022.

    The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed this at a recent telecoms industry stakeholders forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

    Danbatta, who was represented at the forum by the Head, Pre-Licensing at the Commission, Usman Mamman, said from 207 clusters of access gaps in 2013, the industry has witnessed a reduction to 97 as of end 2022 by bridging 110 clusters of access gaps, representing a 53.1 per cent reduction.

    He said by implication, the number of Nigerians who fell within the access gap which were estimated at 37 million in 2013 has been reduced to 27 million, following increased access to telecoms services by those hitherto not digitally included.

    Access gaps refer to the cluster of communities or grouped areas in different parts of the country that are bereft of access to telecom services and till date, the NCC has reduced clusters of access gap by more than half.

    Danbatta said, “We have worked tirelessly to ensure we bring telecom services to people living in rural, unserved, and underserved areas of this country, totalling 37 million people courtesy of the consultancy that was conducted in 2013.

    “By 2019, we had succeeded in reducing the clusters of access gaps to 114 through the deployment of the necessary infrastructure needed to bring services to people living in rural, unserved and underserved areas of the country. The deployment of infrastructure is in terms of base transceiver stations, which resulted in the reduction of Nigerians in those clusters from 37 million to 31 million in 2019.

    “By 2022, we have reduced the clusters of access gaps to 97 from 207 in 2013. The number of Nigerians again have come down from 37 million in 2013 to 27 million as we speak. We achieved this by deploying, from 2009 to 2011, a total of 79 new base transceiver stations,” he said

    Danbatta stated that in 2013 to 2018, the telecom sector also witnessed the deployment of additional 124 base transceiver stations while from 2019 to 2022, a total of 364 base transceiver stations were deployed.

    “So far, the total number of base transceiver stations we have deployed to date between the time the access gaps were identified till the end of 2022 are 567,” he said.

    While describing the reduction in access gap so far as a landmark, Danbatta, however, said the Commission will not rest on its oars as it thrives to ensure that the remaining 27 million Nigerians, who currently lack access to telecoms services, are provided with services.

    Meanwhile, the EVC said part the regulatory interventions of the Commission to bridge the remaining 97 access across the country to provide ubiquitous connectivity in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria are the issuance of the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Licences and the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) networks, among others.

  • Danbatta woos investors at GITEX Africa on Nigeria’s broadband future

    Danbatta woos investors at GITEX Africa on Nigeria’s broadband future

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has invited international telecom companies and potential investors to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people to invest in its telecom sector, especially in infrastructure provisioning for broadband.

    Danbatta, who spoke at the inaugural edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2023, which ended in Marrakesh, Morocco recently, said Nigeria presents a stable political and economic conditions.

    Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Mansur Bamalli, also spoke in the same direction and commended the Commission for its regulatory prowess which has made Nigeria the next investment destination in Africa.

    Danbatta, who was represented at the conference by the Team Lead, Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS), Babagana Digima, said the Commission has a mandate to facilitate the development of the telecom industry in Nigeria, adding that one way through which this can be done is by attracting foreign investors that will further enhance the growth of the economy.

    He informed the global stakeholders at the event that the Nigerian government has been very supportive of the telecom industry which has achieved an upward growth with over 220 million active mobile voice subscriptions in Nigeria, over 150 million Internet subscriptions and broadband penetration of 48 per cent, the country is yet to be fully connected.

    “Our national plan is to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. We still have less than 50 per cent penetration. This means there is huge investment potential for investors. Nigeria’s telecom sector needs more investment in the area of infrastructure deployment,” the EVC stated.

    He stated that the telecom sector in Nigeria has become a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quarter-on-quarter, driving the growth of the digital economy in the country.

    “The importance of this event for us as a Commission is to showcase the NCC as a Nigerian brand, a foremost telecom regulator in Africa and beyond and to bring about the much-needed investment that will enhance development of the Nigerian telecom industry,” Danbatta said.

    The EVC stated that there is abundant talents in Nigeria that can be tapped by investors to support their business operations. “There is abundant human resources waiting to be harnessed by potential investors for ground-breaking global technological innovations and advancement in providing digital solutions.

    “This event provides us with the platform to showcase some of the talents that we have discovered in Nigeria. The Commission has sponsored three indigenous start-ups that are at this event to display their solutions for prospective investors and partnerships,” he said.

    The GITEX Africa 2023 was the maiden edition of the GITEX Global Summit held in Africa. It is poised to be Africa’s most influential forum to accentuate the vast potential of the tech-driven digital economy. It aims to be an international platform for cutting-edge technology for all players from both public and private sectors.

  • USPF probe: NCC submits 1,014 contract documents to Reps

    USPF probe: NCC submits 1,014 contract documents to Reps

    The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has submitted documents of 1,014 contracts it carried out under the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to the House of Representatives.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports an Ad Hoc Committee of the House chaired by Rep Bamidele Salam is probing accruals and utilisation of funds in the USFP.

    The Ad Hoc Committee is also investing the inability of NCC to provide a widespread available telecommunication network across the country.

    The House Ad Hoc committee received the relevant documents from Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC on Wednesday.

    Recall that the committee, headed by Rep Salam, had on May 9, demanded details of the projects including specific addresses and project descriptions.

    However, the committee questioned the document submitted by the Commission, demanding the specifications for each of the contracts that were awarded and listed in the 91-page document submitted by NCC.

    The committee pointed out that there was no specific description of what was done in the contracts and that they were couched in a manner that they would be hard to track.

    It also noted that 80 per cent of the projects had no specific location.

    The NCC was expected to have submitted the required documents on May 9, to enable the committee to analyse them during its next hearing, which was held today.

    Salam said NCC submitted the relevant documents late hence they could not go through them.

    ”The committee needs to go through the documents,” he said, adding that it would get back to NCC on another date that would be communicated to them.

    The lawmakers frowned at the absence of the Chief Executive Officers of telecommunication companies, who were summoned to make presentations at the hearing.