The Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) has hosted the second version of the Nigerian Telecoms Management Summit, according to its custom and dedication to have interaction with stakeholders within the telecom ecosystem with a view to pursuing proactive regulatory interventions focused at guaranteeing an enabling working surroundings and bettering funding local weather within the Nigerian telecom {industry}.
The occasion, which happened on the Eko Motels, Victoria Island, Lagos, was an assemblage of key {industry} stakeholders with the central goal to analyse the present state of the sector, course of the problems, and chart new pathways to a simpler and sustainable regulatory regime for the steadiness and development of the Nigerian telecom {industry}.
Talking on the occasion, the Government Vice Chairman and Chief Government Officer of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated that the theme of the Summit: “The Way forward for Telecom Regulation in Nigeria,” offered a singular alternative for the Fee to work together with essential stakeholders.
By such interplay, the EVC stated the Fee would be capable of brainstorm and migrate to new frontiers of visionary rules that may galvanise and foster desired development within the {industry}.
Danbatta defined that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered political and socio-economic uncertainties globally and underscored the essential position of digital connectivity in maintaining societies functioning, as the net life grew to become, primarily, new lifestyle.
He said that with the elevated dependence on digital platforms, the theme of the occasion had develop into mandatory in an effort to put in place a broader regulatory framework that may improve and shield the integrity of the {industry} within the emergent digital financial system.
On this context, the EVC stated the NCC will proceed to diligently pursue the implementation of coverage frameworks corresponding to Nigeria Nationwide Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025; and the Nationwide Digital Financial system Coverage and Technique (NDEPS) 2020-2030 that are in step with NCC’s regulatory interventions such because the Fee’s Strategic Administration Plan (SMP), 2020-2024 and Strategic Imaginative and prescient Plan (SVP), 2021-2025, amongst others.
Danbatta stated all of the coverage and regulatory frameworks principally search to supply a platform for Nigerian residents to have interaction in progressive developments for the telecoms {industry} and enhance the nation’s capability to compete within the ever-competitive world area.
Explaining additional on the transformation occurring on account of the increasing spectrum of digital ecosystem, Danbatta stated the {industry} is witnessing new enterprise supply and breakthroughs because of the growth of boundaries of digital Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly fintech and e-commerce corporations. The EVC stated these consequential ecosystem have contributed to the expansion of the Nigerian digital financial system driving on telecom infrastructure.
Danbatta aptly reckoned that digital companies and contents offered by these SMEs will leverage on broadband infrastructure and the upcoming deployment of Fifth Era (5G) community being pushed by the Fee to ship extra progressive and high-quality experiences to shoppers.
“The Fee’s profitable public sale and licensing of the three.5GHz spectrum licences within the final quarter of 2021 for the deployment of 5G expertise is about to creat many alternatives for the event of the {industry} and as a regulator, we’re conversant with the truth that a dynamic regulatory surroundings is required to maintain this {industry} development”, Danbatta stated.
“Subsequently, it has develop into crucial for us, as essential stakeholders, to appraise the progress made as far as an {industry} and chart the course for the way forward for the telecoms {industry} within the nation,” he said. The EVC additionally knowledgeable that one of many sectors that had been positively impacted by the digital transformation is the monetary companies sector.
Amplifiying the EVC’s place, in his keynote deal with titled: “The Way forward for Telecom Regulation in Nigeria: Challenges of Entry to Funding”, the Chief Government Officer of Stanbic IBTC, Dr. Ademola Sogunle, asserted that the telecommunications {industry} had develop into the sustaining stimulus of the post-pandemic period as shoppers’ behaviours proceed to shift in direction of digital developments. Danbatta stated that the contribution of the telecom sector continues to learn the complete ecosystem.
Whereas reviewing resolutions of the primary version of the Summit held in 2019, the Director, Coverage, Competitors and Financial Evaluation, NCC, Yetunde Akinloye, stated the Fee had applied the suggestions of that assembly amongst which had been Government Order on Duplicity of Taxes and Levies, and Harmonization of Proper of Means (ROW) charges.
She stated different suggestions applied embrace addressing of interconnect debt, evaluate of the framework on interconnect clearing homes to make sure 10 per cent of site visitors is routed by clearing homes, incentive for small operators in addition to monitoring compliance with Code of Company Governance.
To maintain the momentum from the earlier {industry} management engagement, this 12 months’s Summit offered the Chief Executives of corporations within the telecom sector a chance to fulfill the EVC and high Administration of the Fee at a roundtable for deeper pondering and larger reflection on the challenges within the sector and proffer significant options.
Don’t miss essential articles throughout the week. Subscribe to techbuild.africa weekly digest for updates.
NCC, Stakeholders Chart New Path to Sustainable Regulatory Regime for an Effective Telecom Industry
