The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Professor Umar Danbatta said Infrastructure Companies (Infracos) must roll out visibly in one year after issuance of the licence, or they have their licences withdrawn.
The Commission has been on this project hitherto to achieve the National Broadband Plan. However, recorded a significant feat after licensing four Infracos.
The NCC had licensed MainOne Cable Company Ltd., which should provide services in Lagos Zone and IHS, which is to cover the North-central zone including Abuja. And later licensed Zinox Technology Ltd. for South-east, and Brinks Integrated Solutions Ltd. for North-east.
“These infracos must roll out visibly in one year after issuance of the licence, or the NCC withdraws the licences,’’ Professor Danbatta said.
According to the NCC boss, the Commission has introduced a subsidy for the Infracos to be given to them on attainment of deployment milestones.
Achieving the National Broadband Plan remains a top prioriy for the Commission, while inclusiveness is a strategy to achieving that.
The EVC said: “There should be an arrangement that the rural populace has equitable access to telecom service. Discussions are ongoing to see how we can overcome the security issue in service penetration.
“Kenya had 60 per cent penetration; Ghana has 40 per cent, while Nigeria’s service penetration is nowhere near these figures.
“The reason for the low service penetration in the Nigerian model is because it is bank-driven, and one of the challenges is security,’’ he said.
