Segun Ogunsanya, managing director and chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, has cited collaboration amongst key government agencies, legal protection and security of telecoms infrastructure, elimination of multiple taxations and proactive implementation of the Smart States Initiative as critical factors for accelerating the mobile broadband revolution in Nigeria. Ogunsanya who was a panel discussant at the Nokia Connect Nigeria ICT forum, themed: Exploring ICT potential for growth: opportunities and challenges for operators in the Nigerian market through 3G/LTE; which held recently in Lagos, gave credence to the opinion that the availability of spectrum for mobile broadband will help change the current narrative of a myriad of activities and businesses in Nigeria; from providing an access pipe and database of customers for advertisers to have prompt access to their markets to giving consumers necessary information they require at the click of a button.
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He noted, “We are moving from the use of mobile broadband for e-commerce to m-commerce which strongly supports the development of interconnectivity of devices within an ecosystem.” He however, advised that the key to ensuring the wide spread use of interconnectivity, is to make mobile devices available and at affordable prices whilst ensuring transparency in providing access to the networks. “The future is already here and the time saving benefits in the use of 4G broadband connectivity is enough to encourage rapid 4G/LTE rollout,” Ogunsanya said. The conference which had several corporate leaders and CEOs drawn across the ICT sector in attendance, was chaired by Chief Leo Stan Eke, Chairman of Zinox Group. Other discussants on the panel were, Mr. Matthew Willsher, CEO Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Bernard Najm Head, EMEA Nokia Networks and Mr. Wales Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria.
In his closing remarks, the Airtel CEO stressed the need for the addition of mobile connectivity and information technology to the list of fundamental human rights critical to national development, which he believes will enhance the attainment of the vision 2020 goals for mobile broadband penetration and coverage. He also called for the declaration of telecoms infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, stating that legal protection as well as security for Telecoms infrastructure is required to deepen mobile broadband penetration and coverage.
Ben Uzor
