The licensed Broadband Service providers have reeled out the challenges inhibiting the rollout of setup needed for dependable, affordable and ever-present broadband services in Nigeria. According to the umbrella body of telecom operators, Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); the challenges include, funding, access, vandalism and numerous taxation.
Speaking at an interview, Chairman, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo requested for employment of well-articulated strategies that will drive operators to invest their funds, as giving numerous operating licenses to operators to give metro and nationwide fiber setup does not guarantee investment in that regard.
According to Engr. Gbenga, the Federal Government should address challenges such as vandalism and drawbacks facing right of entry, and obstacles to smooth network operations; adding that currently investment is needed to deploy the broadband services in Nigeria based on the fact that the services are anchored on the availability of surplus capacity in Nigeria and bandwidth.
Managing Director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Rudman said that Nigeria needs distributive channels of internet and they should be accessible to ISPs to experience a broadband revolution, noting that the country may witness an uneven broadband revolution if the internet capacity is not moved out of Lagos and its environs to other parts of the nation.
According to specialists, the current high cost of bandwidth that is affecting the cost and quality of internet in the country is as a result of unavailability of fiber backhaul setup which is required for bandwidth distribution from Lagos to other parts of the country.
Engr. Gbenga added that the challenges should be addressed to make it easy for operators to invest in setups for provision of broadband and its services.
Image Credit: atelusa.com