Over 150 million Nigerians currently have access to Internet, while over 80 million can also access high speed Internet.
The Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof Umar Garba Danbatta disclosed this in Bayelsa state today while addressing stakeholders at the first Talk to the Regulators’ forum for the year 2023.
He said un line with the Nigerian National Broadband plan (NNBP 2020-2025) the NCC is providing industry leadership to facilitate the achievement of 90 per cent Broadband penetration by year 2025.
He said to keep up to date with developments in the industry, the commission has taken measures to improve regulations to accommodate the rapid and continuous development. Some of the developments include but 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.
*In line 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 One Hundred and Fifty (I50) million Nigerians have access to internet, while over eighty (80) million can access high speed internet.
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.
I am pleased to welcome our Licensees to this event and hopeful that during the 2-Day Session, we would discuss and identify the measures necessary to improve investment and service delivery.
I therefore appeal to you all 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.