NCC Reviewing Telecom License Structure To Accommodate New Trends – Danbatta
The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC)has disclosed that it is presently reviewing the scope and structure of existing licenses in other to accommodate some of the new trends in the industry.
The Executive Vice Chairman,(EVC) Engr. Umar Dantatta made this known on Thursday at the ongoing2023”Talk-To-The-Regular (TTTR)Forum in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.
Danbatta said,”the telecom industry has witnessed milestones in more ways than one, 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.
“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,” he said.
The NCC boss said the TTTR 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 theLicensees and of national interest.
“The Nigeria Communications Commission, 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 added .
He reiterated that,”inline 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, over a One Hundred and Fifty (I50) million Nigerians have access to internet, while over eighty (80) million can access high speed internet,” he reiterated.
NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu Esq the forum is an opportunity for Stakeholders to seek clarifications as it relates to understanding regulatory obligations, obligations to the consumer and their collective responsibility to the sustainability of the industry.
“Recently, the Commission issued a regulatory framework for the licensing of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria as well as the requisite licence for such services and this has witnessed significant interest from prospective investors.
“New Market Entrants in this category can leverage on the growth and infrastructure in the telecommunications industry and it is particularly attractive to investors due to its low cost of entry in terms of capital expenditure,” he said.
