…ATCON NEC pledges to work with NCC
IT NEWS NIGERIA:
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Professor. Umar Danbatta has announced that Interconnectivity debts among telecoms operators in the country is now over N165 billion, a major concern for the regulator.
Danbatta revealed this in Abuja when newly elected members National Executive Council of Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), lead by it President, Mr. Olusola Teniola, paid courtesy visit to the Commission weekend in Abuja.
“The interconnectivity debts stands as today at N165 Billion and the commission is concerned with how to resolve the issue”, he said.
Going further, the EVC explained that for this reason, “recently a meeting was held to proffer some long lasting solutions to the issue of interconnectivity debts”, adding, “a pragmatic plan needs to be put in place to mitigate incidence of interconnectivity debts in the industry as it is causing a lot of unnecessary distractions for the commission and the commission would appreciate an approach from ATCON to address the issue before it grows beyond what it is.”
ATCON NEC commends Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) who has shown a lot of commitment and determination in handling matters and issues on the continuous growth and development of the Nigerian telecoms industry.
ATCON President, Mr. Olusola Teniola said that the new NEC is poised to working with you and your Commissioners in order to make your tenure in the commission the one that would never be forgotten in the history of the Nigerian telecom sector. This strategic courtesy visit is put together to demonstrate the respect that we have for you and your office as records are there to show that the development of the sector is highly paramount in your strategic plan for 2018.
“The new NEC is prepared to contribute towards sustaining your high performance in the office of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC.”
He explained that, “the new NEC based on the general perspectives in the industry we are confident that you are going to leave an indelible mark of greater achievements and the entire Nigerian telecom industry would be a better one for the decisions you have made on their behalf.”
As regards revamping Broadband penetration initiative in Nigeria, the President said ATCON is passionate about making sure that broadband penetration in Nigeria is high and part of the strategy that ATCON has earmarked to leapfrog our current broadband rating globally is what we call ATCON Broadband and Technology Investment Forum in all states of the federation. The plan is to work majorly with the Nigerian Communications Commission and all State Governors and Commissioners for ICT in Nigeria to organise this forum in all our states. In 2018, we plan to stage this forum in three states: Kano, Akwa-Ibom and Osun.
“The strategic objectives of this initiative is to promote greater awareness about the state’s technology and broadband investments potentials; identify viable technology investment projects for both the private and public sectors; increase government and private investments and spending in Broadband Infrastructure.”
“It has been established that for any state in Nigeria to seriously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its economic activities and the general welfare of its population, such states must invest more meaningfully in broadband infrastructure. As we all know that 10% broadband penetration can translate to 1.38% in our nation’s GDP, this forum will make concrete attempts to measure the state of broadband infrastructure in the state and what could be done to encourage as well as increase its capacity utilization.”