Etisalat Applauds Broadband, MNP Policies at NCC Telecoms Stakeholders’ Summit

Nigeria’s fastest growing and most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat has commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology for policies implemented in 2013 that will help drive broadband penetration and strengthen competition and in the long run, shape the Nigerian telecoms industry. The company stated this at the maiden Telecoms Stakeholders’ Summit, organized by the NCC and held in Lagos recently.

The summit was organized to review industry policies implemented during the year and proffer solutions for the year ahead. It also featured product exhibitions by all players in the industry and a gala night. Themed ‘Transforming a Nation with Broadband: Telecoms as an Instrument for Sustainable Development’, the Summit brought together service providers, frontrunners of the industry and prominent dignitaries including Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udong Emmanuel; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure Development and Public Utilities, Mr. Kayode Jegede and the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje.

Speaking at the event, acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mathew Willsher commended the NCC on its various regulatory policies to improve connectivity and satisfy the consumer’s needs. “We believe the telecoms industry is important to the success of Nigeria. Success is not about the policies themselves but about successful implementation. Looking at the future trends, appropriate Spectrum pricing and timely availability will help drive the success of the policies. Willsher also noted the need to improve broadband penetration in Nigeria. “At the moment, with more than 121 million active subscribers in Nigeria, only 56 million have active data subscriptions. There is more to do and a lot of team work with the various stakeholders that is required to achieve success. Etisalat is working hard on improving broadband access with our products and services, such as EasyBlaze and EasyFlex, our customers can obtain the fastest internet connectivity at very affordable rates. We believe when you transform connectivity, you transform an individual and in turn transform a nation,” he said.

Speaking on broadband penetration, Omobola Johnson said the ICT sector had delivered an increase in GDP growth by 1.3%, by contributing about 8% to the nation’s GDP this year, adding that if the industry achieved its target of 30% increase by 2017, then the sector would deliver a phenomenal 3% increase in GDP.

Convener of the Summit, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said the Commission was working hard, along with operators, to ensure that acceptable quality of service was delivered to subscribers. “Consumers have a number of things to cheer about in 2013 when we introduced the MNP and also reduction of tariffs for SMS. As a regulator, our common interest is to satisfy all the stakeholders. Therefore, the best approach is to continue to dialogue. In so doing, we understand our key stakeholders better, while they also understand us. This Summit is designed to be part of our stakeholder input,” he said.