NCC Targets 90 Percent Broadband Penetration By 2025, Prof. Danbatta

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) had disclosed that it is targeting to achieve 50 percent and 90 percent broadband penetration by the end of 2023 and 2025 respectively, in line with the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020 – 2025).

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made the disclosure while delivering a keynote address at the first Talk-To-The Regulator Forum for the Year, 2023, holding in the South-South, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The ‘Talk-To-The Regulator` 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 the Licensees and of national interest.

Prof. Danbatta said already, over 150 million Nigerians have access to internet, while over 80 million can access high speed internet.

He explained that 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.

According to him, “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.

“Some of the interventions and responses of the Commission includes but are not limited to:
Facilitating the Roll-Out of 5G Service provision; Introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Licence to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved areas.

“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.”

The NCC Executive Vice Chairman further explained that the 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 appealed to the participants to feel free to ask questions, provide feedback and proffer possible solutions that would address the concerns that might be raised during the interactive sessions.