Danbatta attributes telecom success to sound regulatory practice   

Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, has attributed the growth and strength of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry to regulatory excellence.

Danbatta who spoke as a panelist at Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona Spain, said the growth rate recorded in broadband penetration within such a short time, from less than 10 percent to 21 percent and internet penetration from 20 percent to 40 percent is an indication that the target of 30 percent growth in broadband penetration by 2018 is no longer a tall order.

He said in the instance of spectrum management efficiency, remarkable progress was recorded in transparent spectrum auctions, one of which was 2.6GHz spectrum won by MTN on which it has deployed broadband LTE services. Another provider, Glo has also deployed similar services, resulting in percentage growth witnessed in broadband and broadband internet penetration within a short period.

 The EVC informed the global audience, that the inclusion of operational efficiency and regulatory excellence is an important item of the 8-Point Agenda of his administration is a strategic design, which takes into account, best international standards in all areas of telecom regulation in Nigeria.

 In the panel discussion moderated by Brian Williamson, Partner, Communications Chambers, Jolier Zoiller of United States Department of State, and Hector Huici, Secretary of Communications in Argentina, Danbatta said; “consistent with the protection and empowerment of the consumer item of the agenda, especially with quality of service, the Commission has committed to tackling it to its logical conclusion.

“We have the capacity within the Commission, to measure key performance indicators for all operators and the entire length and breadth of the country, and we are able to say with certainty where these indicators are not being met with the standards set by the NCC.

“We have identified the operators that are not meeting with these standards and we have told them that they must meet up with the standards because we are concerned that unless there is improvement in quality of service Nigerians will not be able to enjoy services that they desire”, he said.

 According to Danbatta, this is why the Commission decided on a campaign tagged: “2017: Year of the Telecom Consumer in Nigeria” to accentuate another provision in the 8-Point Agenda which is to protect and empower the consumer.

 This year’s mobile congress, with the theme, The Next Element, had more than 108,000 attendees with more than 2,300 companies exhibiting products ranging from new handsets, new apps, virtual realities, connected cars, backend solutions and others.

Jumoke Akiyode