By Editor
Good news came out of the telecommunications industry as active telephone users in the country hit 197.5 million, according to the Director, Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC) Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.
Danbatta, who disclosed this at the ongoing 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu State, also noted that subscribers to the Internet exceeds 143.7 million.
Dantatta added that broadband penetration stood at 41.61per cent.
Represented by the Enugu Zonal Controller, Ogbonnaya Ugama, the Executive Vice Chairman, said: “In this new environment, the competitiveness of Nigeria and ability to open up the business environment to more global opportunities, depends on the ability of local players to leverage new technologies in their businesses”.
He also restated the commission’s commitment to protecting and empowering consumers from unfair practices by service providers irrespective of their class, saying that the commission’s regulatory mandate of ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services deserved to get value for their money and to be treated right as very important stakeholders is unwavering.
He also disclosed that NCC was on the verge of deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) network in Nigeria.
The NCC boss said already, spectrum licenses for the companies that will roll out services have been issued.
He said: “Though the deployment will start from the state capital and gradually extend to other areas across the state, it is important to state that unlike 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G, the 5G network will bring substantial network improvements , including higher connection speed, among others”.
Dantatta assured that as a consumer focused public sector institution, the NCC shall continue to commit to the provision of a high level playing ground for operators to thrive, promote investment, delivery of innovative services to individual consumers, among others.
He noted that NCC has been a long standing partner of ECCIMA, adding that the commission has continually held it’s special day program at the fair.
