By
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a favorable regulatory environment that will foster investment and growth in the telecom sector, particularly in emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT).
This pledge was made during a stakeholder forum on IoT and the launch of two books by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The books, Datafication of Society to Foster an Internet Economy and Cybersecurity Initiatives for Securing a Country, focus on the growing role of data and cybersecurity in today’s digital world.
Pantami highlighted the importance of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a key driver in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He explained that IoT connects devices to share data, and technologies like AI, robotics, quantum computing, and 5G are all part of this shift.
He shared statistics from the International Data Corporation (IDC), predicting that by 2025, there will be 46.1 billion IoT devices worldwide, generating 79.4 zettabytes of data. Pantami said that Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy aims to create flexible regulations that encourage growth without unnecessary restrictions.
“Nigeria could be the first to introduce regulatory policies that support growth, rather than hold it back,” Pantami said.
Danbatta, on his part, discussed the importance of ongoing studies on emerging technologies and spectrum management. He emphasized that the NCC’s 2021-2025 Strategic Vision Plan ensures enough spectrum is available for both current and future needs.
He also noted that 5G technology will change the IoT landscape by enabling more connections. According to GSMA Intelligence, IoT connections will hit 25 billion by 2025, making regulation of these technologies even more critical.
“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to shape the future of this technology,” Danbatta said.
