NCC Host Talk-To-The Regulator’ Forum in Bayelsa
The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) held its two day, first `Talk-To-The Regulator ` Forum for the Year, 2023, in the South-South, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State with the theme,“Enhancing Stakeholders’ Satisfaction”.
The Forum was conceptualized to 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.
Prof. Danbatta, the executive vice chairman of NCC in his keynote speech, mentioned that the telecom industry has witnessed a rapid growth in technology, which is redefining service delivery, and creating wide and high expectations from all stakeholders.
He stated the Commission’s commitment in taking measures to improve regulations to accommodate the rapid and continuous development which led to some of the interventions and responses of the Commission such as:
- 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 a One Hundred and Fifty (I50) million Nigerians have access to internet, while over eighty (80) million can access high speed internet
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Danbatta reiterate NCC’s commitment to making sure that all Nigerians have access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services as well as the recent licensing of 5G network service.
The Director, Licensing and Authorization Department, Nigerian Communication Commission, mr. Mohammed Babajika, in his opening remarks acknowledged that the Commission recognized that technological achievements in the Industry such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Network as a Service (NaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT) are redefining service-delivery and therefore in line with global trends, it is currently reviewing its license categories.
Babajika, further explained, ‘the licensing of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNCs) and seeks the cooperation and support of Licensees while discharging the mandate of the Commission and urge them to seek clarification with respect to any issues such as license obligations, renewal processes, procedures and emerging trends in the industry.
Others who spoke at the event were Mr. Adeleke Adewolu esq., Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, who spoke on the essence of the Forum which is to create awareness about the activities of the Commission as a Regulator and also obtain feedback from critical stakeholders on how the industry affects their daily lives as well as the role of the Regulator in enhancing same. It also serves as an educational platform where misconceptions about the Commission and its processes are explained said Adeleke in his speech.
The Zonal Controller, Nigerian Communication Commission, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Venny Eze delivered a welcome address and express gratitude to the attendees and reiterate the importance of the Forum in creating a platform for dialogue between the NCC, Licensees and other industry stakeholders.
TTTR Forum was originally scheduled to hold in 2022 but was postponed due to the dreadful flood disaster that hit Bayelsa and some other states in the year.
