The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that the ongoing careful implementation of the 8-Point Agenda, rolled out by the Commission on his appointment will drive penetration to well over 14 per cent by 2018.
Delivering a lecture at the 2016 Academy Public Lecture of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, which in Abuja recently, Danbatta noted that the determination of the Commission is in line with the National Broadband Plan, whose roadmap and timelines are aimed at delivering a five-fold increase in broadband penetration by 2018.
The former University don, spoke on ‘The National Broadband Plan as a Strategy for Social and Economic Transformation: The NCC Mandate’.
It would be recalled that the National Broadband Plan mandates NCC to drive the implementation vide policy and regulation, enabling infrastructure, costing and pricing, funding & investment, driving demand, building fibre infrastructure and wireless broadband infrastructure upgrade and expansion in partnership with the private sector investors.
Danbatta noted further that in the 21st century, the social and economic development of every country on earth will depend on Broadband networks, and that NCC is working in line with ITU’s key priorities to deliver equitable, affordable broadband access to the Internet for all people, irrespective of wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
He said broadband penetration will completely transform the way essential services are delivered, from e-health to e-education to e-commerce to e-government. And it’s about helping meet the Sustainable Development Goals in every sector.
