The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has inaugurated an industry-wide committee to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure under the National Communications Backbone (NCB), expected to achieve 70 percent penetration by 2025.
Chaired by NCC’s director of Digital Economy, Augustine Nwaulune, other members are Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), and Tower Companies (TowerCos), and the committee is saddled with the responsibility of supporting the drive towards the realization of the NCB targets.
Reuben Muoka, director, Public Affairs of NCC, in a statement said the meeting was presided over by director of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, Josephine Amuwa, on behalf of the executive vice chairman of NCC, Umar Danbatta.
It said the emergence of the Committee was informed by the need to inject a broad-based industry approach to address challenges impeding the actualization of broadband targets.
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Danbatta said the Committee is expected to drive the targets set by the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, including deployment of 120,000 kilometer of fibre across the country; deepening of broadband penetration to 70 per cent by 2025; and connection of 60 per cent of Communication towers with fibre; among other targets, as stipulated in its approved Terms of Reference (ToR).
He stated, “I appreciate your willingness and readiness to make a considerable investment of time and talent to participate in this Committee. We appreciate that you will provide an invaluable perspective as we seek to address gaps impeding the actualization of the NCB and NNBP initiatives.”
“The depth and scope of experiences represented by the broad spectrum of this Committee’s membership will, no doubt, provide the Commission with much-needed insight and drive to overcome the challenges facing broadband infrastructure deployment in the country, and even exceed the current set targets.”
Following its inauguration, the Committee held its maiden meeting that discussed the frequency of meetings and other critical issues considered relevant to deliver on its terms of reference.
The Committee’s six-point terms of reference include; enhancing collaboration between MNOs and InfraCos towards achieving target of the NCB of the NNBP 2020-2025; and to design an NCB network architecture and harmonized comprehensive plan that will create a more viable business case that will attract investors, establish synergy between the MNOs and the InfraCos, and facilitate infrastructure deployment.
The Committee, in collaboration with the Commission, is also expected to organize an NCB financing workshop and invite all the major financial institutions, MNOs and InfraCos, and present the project estimated at N800 billion, for adoption and financing.
Equally, the Committee is mandated to initiate engagements with identified sources of funding including Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among others.
