By IT News Nigeria:
Nigeria telecoms watchdog announced that high speed internet or broadband usage has continued on the rise, moving up from 40.9 per cent in February 2022 to 44.5 per cent in July 2022.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed this today in Abuja at the beginning of a three-day public inquiry on five telecom regulations and guidelines.
This means that the number of subscriptions to fixed and mobile broadband services divided by the number of residents in Nigeria is 44.5%. Nigeria with estimated population of 200 million targets 70% broadband access by 2025.
But Report puts Nigeria internet penetration at 51% as at April2022.
NCC reviews Short Code services
The apex regulator noted that emerging technologies and advancements in the sector demand that the Commission is prepared to match these developments with appropriate regulations and guidelines.
According to Danbatta, “with the technological advancements anticipated in the coming years, it is expected that there will be a proliferation of devices in the industry. It is, therefore, essential for the Commission to ensure that the right regulatory frameworks can accommodate such eventualities”.
NCC said the regulatory instruments under review at the public inquiry to include:
- Type Approval Regulations
- Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria
- Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure
- Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions
- Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
The EVC further stated that the amendment of these regulatory instruments were to reflect current realities, one of which is the anticipated deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology, and management of short codes in Nigeria, including the Toll-Free Emergency Code 112.
