Telecommunications policy will accelerate broadband infrastructure roll-out – Pantami
By Idris Bakare
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami has explained that the telecommunications policy will accelerate broadband infrastructure roll-out in the country.
Pantami made the disclosure in Lagos at the just concluded fourth edition of Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) on Dig Once Policy and Fibre Strategy in Nigeria with the theme: Laying the Foundation for Ubiquitous Broadband for Nigeria’s Economic Breakthrough.
The conversation which was the Fourth Edition of PIAFo with the theme ‘Laying the Foundation for Ubiquitous Broadband for Nigeria’s Economic Breakthrough’ took place at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos recently.
Represented by Engineer Usman Aliyu, Secretary of Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC) and Head, Wireless Network at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Pantami said the policy is recognized in the Nigeria Broadband Plan 2020-2025 as a critical element to attain 70% broadband penetration by 2025.
According to Pantami, the policy will facilitate seamless deployment of fibre optic as a backbone broadband infrastructure across the country to bridge digital divide and boost digital economy.
“Some of the objectives of the policy are provisioning of shared infrastructure for existing internet service providers and entrants; promotion of installation of ready-made buried fibre conduit for broadband deployment; and reduction of the barriers to entry for Internet Service Providers.
“Others are to promote coordination and reduce the number of excavations and disruptions caused due to fibre installation works; to lower the cost of broadband internet service deployment; to promote joint installation of infrastructures in a single phase and avoid unnecessary future digging as well as encouraging infrastructure, and to promote a unified and affordable pricing regime across the federation for Right of Ways.” he said
Speaking at the event, the Lead Executive, PIAFo; Editor, Business Metrics Nigeria, Omobayo Azeez, said the forum is designed to make invaluable contributions for proper formulation of the policy and its effective implementation after it is drafted.
He said policy is imperative to deal with the bitter reality of telecoms sector anywhere in the world.
The reality is that network expansion is often constrained by high cost of deploying infrastructure; and fibre optic is the backbone infrastructure for network expansion and high Quality of Service (QoS).
He said this explained why in the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, Nigeria is pursuing fibre targets such as 60% Fibre to Towers Connection; Minimum of 120,000km Fibre Infrastructure; Fibre along all federal and state roads; Fibre along 90% of LGA roads; Connecting 100% Tertiary Institutions to Fibre; and Delivering 25 Megabyte per second Internet Speed by 2025, adding that achieving these and the ultimate 70% broadband penetration targets by 2025 requires an ecosystem of willing and united stakeholders including various agencies of governments, operators, equipment manufacturers, and internet service providers.
According to him, “This summit is the Pioneer stakeholder consultative forum dedicated to Dig Once in Nigeria. This speaks volume to the enormity of the task ahead of us today.
“We have positioned this forum to make invaluable contributions for proper formulation of the policy and its effective implementation after it is drafted.”
“We believe all relevant stakeholders should be part of formulating this policy to ensure that the implementation is seamless and prevented from being revolted against in some quarters, just as the case with Right of Ways Charges in some states.”
Also speaking at the event, General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Engr. (Mrs.) Bisoye Coker-Odusote spoke on the feasibility of dig once policy adoption by Nigerian states.
Speaking on the characteristics of the Dig Once Policy, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote said that the Dig Once policy is basically the provision of a unified & harmonised duct infrastructure network for all Public Utility Operators and Public Institutions to cover every area of a particular area.
Commenting on the Implication of the policy, she said that the goals of the National Development Plan include functional and economically viable metropolitan communities.
She stated that this enhances the expansion of utility infrastructure & deployment of technology to any particular area and saves the operator the need to dig or trench for the provision of public services every time; while also saving the Government and the citizens from incessant damage to existing public infrastructure.
She also called for the adoption of the National dig once policy by all the states but with hybrid dimensions taking into consideration the uniqueness of the individual states.
