Danbatta: Why NCC issued 2 new infracos licenses

 T he Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has hailed the recent licensing of new infracos by the commission, describing it is a key step to ensuring the deployment of infrastructure for the telecommunications sector. Speaking at a panel session of the International Institute of Communications (IIC) And Regional, Telecommunications and Media Forum in Singapore, Danbatta noted that the Commission had to develop innovative solutions to fast-track infrastructure deployment with a view to deepening the nation’s broadband penetration. The board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had recently issued two additional Infrastructure Company (Infraco) licences to Zinox Technology Limited for Southeast, and Brinks Integrated Solutions Limited for Northeast making the total number of Infracos licenced so far to four. The NCC boss, therefore, called for the development of human capital which is in tune with the dynamism of the industry to achieve the desired balanced regulatory intervention. “Regulators must consider the idea of having in-house Research & Development units that reach out and collaborate with researchers, academia in order to align and be abreast of technological innovations and trends,” he explained. Also, in a paper titled Building Institutional Capacity and Human Capital: How A Regulator Builds Capacity That Fits For Purpose In A Rapidly Moving Environment, Danbatta told the gathering that the NCC would continue to ensure that its institutional structure remains pliable enough to tackle emerging technologies and exigencies of the telecommunications sector. He said the commission’s performance has attracted the recognition of numerous reputable institutions both locally and internationally, especially in the last two years. “In 2017, the Bureau for Public Service Reforms, Nigeria reviewed the Commission’s structure, processes and work culture, scored it a platinum category and recommended it a model for other public institutions in the country to emulate,” he added. It would be recalled that the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had last week approved two additional Infrastructure Company (Infraco) licences in order to deepen broadband penetration in the country. The two new Infraco licencees are Zinox Technology Limited for South-east and Brinks Integrated Solutions Limited for North-east, according to a statement yesterday by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo. With this approval, the number of Infracos licenced so far is now four. More than one year ago, MainOne Cable Company Limited got its licence to provide services in Lagos while IHS was licensed to cover the North-central geopolitical zone including Abuja. The Infraco licences are based on the NCC’s Open Access Model (OAM) in line with the National Broadband Plan (NBP) of (2013 – 2018). By provisions of the NBP, Nigeria is expected to attain 30 percent broadband penetration by December 2018, but many experts and players within the sector are saying this is not feasible. But NCC believes this is possible. As part of the initiative to achieve this, NCC, as the driver of this process, has so far licenced a number of companies to stimulate broadband penetration. These include Bitflux Communications Limited (Bitflux) for 2.3 Ghz and MTN Nigeria for the 2.6 Ghz licences. Other licences are in the pipeline in this process. As at December, 2017, Nigeria had attained 22% broadband penetration, according to the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman Prof Umar Garba Danbatta. With the licensing of four Infracos: MainOne Cable, IHS, Zinox Technology and Brinks Solutions, there are three more licencees waiting for approval to bring total number to seven. These are for South-south, North-west and South-west.