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The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is organizing a one-day meeting with key stakeholders, including state commissioners, permanent secretaries, and heads of ICT agencies, to discuss how Nigeria can reach its broadband goals.
The Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 aimed to provide faster internet speeds, with 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas, while also targeting 70% internet penetration by 2025. However, a recent report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that Nigeria’s broadband penetration has decreased by 10.7%, now reaching just 40.48% of the population.
ATCON President, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, emphasized the importance of connectivity in driving innovation and the digital economy. He called for collaboration between state governments and telecom operators to remove obstacles to broadband access.
The main goals of the upcoming meeting are to review the progress of the National Broadband Plan, discuss the 2023-2027 strategic blueprint under Dr. Bosun Tijani, and encourage telecom companies to expand their operations nationwide. The meeting will also focus on resolving issues like right of way and multiple taxation that hinder telecom development.
Additionally, ATCON aims to sign a memorandum of understanding with state governments, ensuring no destruction or shutdown of telecom base stations. This collaboration is seen as key to accelerating development, improving broadband access, and tackling poverty and unemployment.
Key figures, including Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Barr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, have been invited to contribute to the meeting, which will take place in Abuja on June 5, 2024. The theme of the meeting is “Harnessing States’ Potential through the Applications of Technical Efficiencies.”
