The Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, on Wednesday, January 27,in Lagos, said its preparations for the licensing of five new broadband infrastructure companies, Infracos, has reached an advanced stage.
The nation’s telecoms industry regulator added that before the end of the first quarter of 2016, the licencees will emerge.
Its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Umar Dambatta who spoke during his maiden press conference at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikekja, said a committee to handle the award of the licences has already been constituted in the Commission.
Dambatta who unveiled what he termed his “Eight Point Agenda for 2015-2020” said the pillars will ride on a tripod of three ‘As” which represent availability of service; accessibility of service; and affordability of service in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s change agenda, an ideological shift in the creation of structures for social benefits and inclusiveness for national development.
He said ubiquitous broadband provision is very important, noting that while two Infracos have already been licenced to provide services in Lagos and the Northeast, the remaining five other geopolitical zones will be captured in the next licensing round.
He said though not much is going on in the deployment of services in the two licensed zones, the Commission has invited MainOne which won the Lagos licence for discussion while HIS which won the Northeast licence will be engaged in meaningful discussion to drive the implementation of the National Broadband Plan of the Federal Government, grow sector contribution to national gross domestic product (GDP), create jobs and enhance good life for the citizens of the country.
