- Lists 10 Focus Items Essential To Realise Plan
By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
With the understanding amongst stakeholders that the private sector is critical to the realization of the digital economy aspirations of Nigeria, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has pledged its commitment to the actualization of the goals of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan(NNBP) 2020-2025. Chairman of the Board of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, dropped this hint at the Virtual Structured Engagement With key Stakeholders In The Nigerian Telecom & IT Sector On The New Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, March 25, 2021, under the auspices of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). Dr. Ndukwe, a former President of the association as well as Nigeria’s chief telecoms regulator, made his contribution under the category of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Dr. Ndukwe commended the leadership of ATCON for the initiative to get the private sector involved in the overall efforts to realize the goals of the NNBP, 2020-2025. Describing broadband as the driver of economic growth and development, he underscored the need for all stakeholders, policy, regulatory and industry forces to pull in the same direction to ensure that the targets, timelines and milestones were met. According to him, Chairman of the Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC),Engr. Ubale Maska did a good job in his overview of the Plan.
Some of the targets of the NNBP 2020-2025 include, but are not limited to achieving 15Mbps; 25Mbps internet speed in rural and urban areas respectively by 2025, interconnection of 90 per cent of all local government areas(LGAs) by fibre, 70 per cent Population penetration, 100 per cent of Tertiary Institutions to be within 5Km of a fibre point of access(PoA), 60 per cent of all telecom towers to be connected by fibre, connection of 1 major hospital or General hospital per LGA via fibre, reduction of average cost of data to N390/Gb or less and establishment of at least one (1) local assembly or manufacture of smart devices, reduction of RoW to N145/m etc.
Noting that implementation was key, the Board Chairman of MTN Nigeria listed 10 items that must be in focus to achieve the targets, timelines and milestones of the NNBP 2020-2025:
- The first is Right of Way(RoW). Ndukwe would like to see a situation where the cost of RoW per linear meter is harmonized amongst governments at the national and subnational levels. Currently, some governors are charging N145/per linear meter , others are charging more while some others have waived this cost.
- Reasonable RoW Across States
Dr. Ndukwe canvassed reasonable RoW charges across states. “I would expect a forward-looking local government Chairman to offer RoW free of charge to encourage ubiquitous broadband infrastructure in their jurisdictions.”
- Funding of the Networks
Synergy between MNOs and Financial Institutions is required.
- Infrastructure Development
There must be profuse rollout and deep penetration of infrastructure in the rural areas. National and subnational governments must cooperate with other broadband forces to cause this to happen.
- There must be gender balance in the acquisition and use of broadband devices.
- Permit For Towers Erection
Towers are necessary for ubiquitous broadband services and suspension of permits has hampered service provisioning.
- Focus on Educational Institutions
Operators and governments at the national and subnational levels must cooperate to ensure educational institutions(at all levels-primary, secondary and tertiary) are supplied with adequate broadband services. This is doable!
- Content
Content encourages use of broadband and our contents must be moved to the internet.
- Timely Spectrum Releases
Spectrum is the lifeblood of telecommunications and must be released timeously.
- Timely 5G Licences
5G is a key driver of future broadband deployment globally. 5G licenses need to be granted timeously as we cannot continue to play second fiddle to the rest of the world.
Ndukwe concluded that if these prescriptions were implemented to the letter, there was no reason the nation could not meet and even surpass the 70 per cent broadband penetration target.
