Post Covid-19: Innovation needs robust broadband infrastructure to thrive
Innovation need robust broadband infrastructure upon which ICT will ride and accelerate economic growth in the post COVID-19 era.
This was contained in a keynote delivered by the the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), PROF. UMAR DANBATTA.
He spoke during the virtual 5th edition of Nigeria Innovation Week on October 6, 2020.
According to him, NCC placed emphasis on broadband to drive innovation and it “hopes to take broadband penetration to 70% by 2025 in line with the new target in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBBP), 2020-2025. Through effective regulatory efforts, the NCC has been able to deepen connectivity in the country”, he said.
Themed Innovating in Critical Times the event was relevant in view of the numerous challenges that the pandemic has thrown at national governments, the ICT community and the health sector.
He observed that the COVID-19 global pandemic ripped through world economies and incapacitated local businesses, upsetting the workforce and rendering governments numb.
“It is a well-known fact that nations that plan to succeed must have well-articulated policies in place to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, however, the COVID-19 Pandemic has exposed the frailties of even the most advanced nations.
“We are driven by the vision to build a telecommunications market defined by universal access to affordable and equitable service and that’s why, as EVC of NCC, I introduced the ICT industry to my Strategic Vision Plan (8-point agenda) on assumption of office.
Some of the agenda points include facilitating broadband penetration, improving quality of service, optimizing usage and benefits of spectrum, promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnerships among others.
He informed that the driving force behind the eight-point agenda was to prepare the industry for the uncertainties and challenges that lay ahead, considering the disruptions caused by evolving technologies.
“This is to ensure that the sector continues to play its veritable role as the enabler of the nation’s economic growth”, he said.
The Commission, in continuing with its long-standing tradition of being a proactive regulatory approach, introduced policies and initiatives aimed at promoting the provision of efficient, available, affordable and easily accessible communications services throughout Nigeria.
A proactive step taken by the Commission was the partnership with necessary stakeholders across the three tiers of government to collectively address challenges such as vandalism, multiple taxation & regulation, high cost of Right of Way (RoW), among others, which have been impeding speedy infrastructure deployment across the country.
For innovation to thrive as the anchor for accelerating economic growth post COVID-19, a robust broadband infrastructure upon which ICT innovations will ride, is a necessity and an urgent one at that. During my first term in office, we placed emphasis on broadband to drive innovation, and hopes to take broadband penetration to 70% by 2025 in line with the new target in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBBP), 2020-2025. Through effective regulatory efforts, the NCC has been able to deepen connectivity in the country.
