NCC's New Chief, Dr. Aminu Maida, to Revamp InfraCo Project for Accelerated Broadband Growth
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has announced plans to review the stalled Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) licensing project initiated during the tenure of Prof. Umar Danbatta. Maida, confirmed by the Senate last week, expressed his commitment to deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria.
As per the Nigeria National Broadband Policy (NNBP 2020-2025), NCC aims for a 70% broadband penetration by 2025. Current data, as of August, indicates a 45.57% penetration rate. Dr. Maida emphasized the need for a reevaluation of the InfraCo project to meet the ambitious target.
In his address to telecom CEOs in Lagos, Maida highlighted key priorities, including the importance of industry collaboration to ensure non-negotiable quality of service.
He urged telecom operators to recognize their pivotal role in advancing Nigeria's digital economy and emphasized the urgency of compliance with industry regulations and standards.
Dr. Maida acknowledged the complexity of the InfraCo project and stressed the importance of reimagining the approach for effective implementation. He called for increased investment in broadband infrastructure, especially at the state level.
Addressing the historical challenges of the InfraCo project initiated by Danbatta, Maida outlined the licensing of seven companies across geopolitical zones.
However, none of these companies met the conditions to roll out infrastructure effectively. Compliance with regulations and benchmarking against industry standards are focal points for the NCC under Maida's leadership, as the organization strives to set the benchmark for telecom excellence in Nigeria.
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