At AfriTECH 3.0: NCC’s Boss Describes Technology-as-a-Service As Beacon For Innovation

By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has said that the convergence of Technology-as-a-Service and infrastructure deployment marks a new era in technological advancement.

Dr. Maida said the emergence of Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) stood as a beacon of innovation, providing businesses with the tools to adapt, grow, and thrive in the ever-evolving dynamic environment.

Maida, who described this convergence as a paradigm that not only fostered innovation and growth but also democratizesd access to cutting-edge solutions for businesses of all sizes, implored service providers to embrace this transformative concept.

Speaking while presenting his keynote address at the Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 3.0) held at the Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, south west, Nigeria, on Wednesday, Maida stressed the need for service providers to leverage infrastructure deployment to drive Technology-as-a-Service, which would propel the country into a future where technological barriers were minimized, and possibilities were limitless.

Represented by the Director, Public Affairs at the NCC,Reuben Muoka,  Maida said that through infrastructure deployment within the TaaS model, businesses had the power to access and utilize cutting-edge technology, catering to their needs without the shackles of long-term commitments or heavy investments.

“At the heart of the five pillars of the Strategic Blueprint of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is Infrastructure. The role of critical infrastructure in enabling TaaS cannot be overemphasized; it is thus the goal of the Commission to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2025 through the laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.

“In a similar vein, and in line with the vision of the Ministry, we are targeting the provision of coverage for at least 80 per cent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027,” Maida said.

The NCC EVC/CEO, who stated that the deployment of infrastructure formed the backbone of TaaS, noted that by leveraging scalable and efficient infrastructure, organisations could harness cloud solutions, edge computing, and other advanced technologies, adding that the dynamic nature of infrastructure deployment ensured that businesses had the right tools at the right time without the constraints of physical infrastructure.

He stressed that the cornerstone of TaaS lied in its ability to revolutionise how technology deployment was approached, emphasising that traditionally, organisations would grapple with the complexities of infrastructure ownership and management, which was often a costly and inflexible endeavour.

“However, through infrastructure deployment within the TaaS framework, there is a paradigm shift where the burden of infrastructure ownership is alleviated, and the focus is shifted to accessibility, scalability, and service-oriented solutions.

While noting that the significance of TaaS is underpinned by infrastructure deployment, the NCC helmsman remarked that this marks a fundamental change in how businesses consume technology.

“It enables on-demand access to a vast array of technological resources and services, providing the flexibility to scale resources according to immediate needs, without the constraints of traditional ownership models. It is about unlocking the power of technology without being encumbered by the weight of infrastructure maintenance and management.

“This innovative approach carries with it a multitude of benefits. Firstly, it diminishes the financial burden by transforming capital expenditures into operational costs. This allows businesses to redirect resources to innovation and growth rather than fixed infrastructure expenses.

“Secondly, it offers unparalleled agility, enabling organisations to pivot, expand, or contract rapidly in response to market demands. Moreover, Infrastructure Deployment within TaaS ensures that the latest technologies and updates are readily available, eliminating the overhead of constant maintenance and upgrades,” Maida stated.