Business
By Anthony Isibor
PROF. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman OF Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, has expressed confidence that the 2023 ‘Talk To The Regulator Forum’ TTTR will serve as an opportunity to further deepen the harmonious relationship between the Commission and its stakeholders.
He made this known during his keynote address at the event, which was held in Bayelsa State, on Thursday, June 1 2023.
Realnews reports that although the TTTR Forum in Yenagoa was originally scheduled to hold in 2022, it was postponed due to the flood disaster that hit most parts of the country, including Bayelsa state.
According to him, the NCC in keeping with its mandate creates opportunities to interact with its licensees on industry issues and new trends via stakeholder fora, with a view to gathering relevant information that would further advance the development of the industry, while improving regulations and service delivery to telecom consumers.
He also revealed that the Commission is currently reviewing the scope and structure of its existing licenses to make them more robust and to accommodate some of the identified new industry trends.
“In line with the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020 – 2025), the NCC is providing industry leadership to facilitate the achievement of 90% Broadband penetration by year 2025, and well above 50% at the end of 2023. Currently, more than I50 million Nigerians have access to internet, while about 80 million can access high speed internet.
“The ‘Talk-To-The Regulator` Forum is a common platform for non-discriminatory interaction on a one-on-one basis, between the Licensees and the Regulator on several industry issues, pertinent to the Licensees and of national interest.
“I am pleased to welcome our Licensees to this event and hopeful that during the two-day session, we would discuss and identify the measures necessary to improve investment and service delivery.
“I therefore appeal to you all to feel free to ask questions, provide feedback and proffer possible solutions that would address the concerns that might be raised during the interactive sessions,” he said.
Prof. Danbatta also listed some of the recent growths recorded in the industry, including the rapid growth in technology, which is redefining service delivery, and creating wide and high expectations from all stakeholders.
“To keep up to date with developments in the industry, the Commission has equally taken measures to improve regulations to accommodate the rapid and continuous development. Some of the interventions and responses of the Commission include but not limited to:
Facilitating the Roll-Out of 5G Service provision.
Introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operator, MVNO, Licence to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved areas,” he added.
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Tags: Anthony Isibor NCC Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta
