30 per cent broadband target is still achievable – NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has Nigeria can still achieve the 30 per cent broadband penetration target by the end of 2018.  Th e NCC said Nigeria is left with just 8% to attain the 30% broadband target set by the federal government and it is still achievable.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said this in Abuja recently. Prof Danbatta  said at the moment Nigeria has moved from 10% to 22% broadband penetration in the pursuit of the 30% target set for December 2018.  He explained that effort is ongoing to deepen the penetration, which his administration is implementing at the moment as part of the 8 Point agenda of the administration.

According to him, plans are ongoing to license   more Infrastructure Companies (Infracos) and to auction some more frequency licences, while some are being initiated and some are being re-farmed as part of the agenda to achieve  the broadband penetration target.

‘‘In broadband, we have moved from   10% to 22% broadband penetration at the moment. All these are going on simultaneously. All the 8 Point agenda items are moving on simultaneously. Also captured in the 8 Point Agenda  for consumers’ expectations is issue of quality of   ‘‘The 8 Point agenda has encapsulated all the key areas of interest for the Nigerian   consumer. We talked about 2017 Year of Consumer, but yet to come is already going on, is the broadband plan for Nigeria, which the administration of Umar Danbatta is implementing at the moment. ‘‘You know about the Infraco licensing that is going on? Th e auction of frequency  licences is going on, some being initiated and some being re-farmed.

That is part of the agenda.   ‘‘Issues like spectrum management efficiency, issues of collaboration with other organizations, using the telecommunication industry to spur the industry to the economy to grow.  ‘‘I believe a lot of Nigerians will say today that the quality of they were getting last year was less than what they are getting this year.  We have moved the industry forward, we have sensitised the service providers, they need to do more for the consumer. They need to understand that the NCC is interested in the service to consumer as it relates to quality of service.   Recall that the federal ministry of Communication had assured Nigerians of 30% broadband  penetration by end of 2018.   Th e ministry had in 2012 launched a Broadband Road map with a 30% penetration target by the end of 2018.