Nigeria plans to license new Infrastructure Companies (Infracos) and auction more spectrums in order to deepen the country’s internet penetration, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has said.
According to Professor Umar Danbatta, the Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, this move is part of efforts to actualise the 30% broadband target set by the Federal Government for 2018.
Nigeria currently has about 22% broadband penetration. This is less compared to other major economies such as Egypt, Kenya and South Africa which have 35.7%, 38.8% and 54% respectively.
At the moment, Nigeria has moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration in the pursuit of the 30 per cent target set for December 2018. Effort is ongoing to deepen the penetration as part of this administration’s eight-point agenda.
“Plans are also ongoing to license Infrastructure Companies, Infracos, auction some frequency licences, while some are being initiated and some being reframed to achieve the broadband penetration target. In broadband, we have moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration at the moment. All these are going on simultaneously -Professor Umar Danbatta
The need for high-speed internet connectivity has become indispensable in today’s business environment. With more businesses online, coupled with the need for instant communication, it has become inevitable for the government to fast-track all efforts to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure widespread broadband internet penetration.
