Broadband Distribution And Influencing Factors In Nigeria The entrance of broadband initiative into Nigeria recently, ushered in a new phase of communications technology in the country. With the Ministry of Communications Technology, the Nigerian Communications, other active organizations, agencies and stakeholders at the forefront of the initiative, the concept has, so far, thrived to a point where the nation’s broadband distribution cannot go any lower than the present global standard. The Recent auction of 2.3GHz frequency broadband spectrum purchased by Bitflux at $23.25m for broadband Internet frequency distribution was not doubt, a move by the industry regulators to enhance exploration of the broadband initiative and rid the country of likely negative factors that could influence a stifled distribution of the broadband services. Also, a number of firms are emerging in the telecoms industry with a mission to serve internet users with worthwhile broadband services, especially into the rural settlements in the country. This trend indicates a drastic change in the growth and development of the broadband initiative in Nigeria. Before its full realization in July 2010, broadband was defined as 200 kbps in each direction but to keep pace with the ever evolving world of technology, the United States FCC (American equivalent of our NCC) increased the minimum speeds required for broadband to 4 Mbps down and 1Mbps up. Even so, ISPs in Nigeria today proudly advertise 1 Mbps (and even less) as high speed broadband. Ten years since the introduction of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria, it has significantly impacted on the nation’s economy in a variety of ways, enhanced personal and corporate communications and generally improved the quality of life across the country. But quite a number of factors are already on the toll that could possibly mar the dream of the initiative in the country if not given swift attention. Such factors likepricing and regulations could hinder Internet penetration in the country. Mrs.Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology, recently cited that high cost of access and multiple regulations constitute major hindrances to the use of the Internet as well as the roll out of its infrastructure in the country. Johnson disclosed this at a forum organised by the Alliance for Affordable Internet to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web and to chart the way forward for the penetration of Internet in the country. Sheexpressed her regrets that the other agencies that had oversight functions on the industry, including those of sub-national governments, were too many to deal with. Stakeholders have indicated the relevance of policy initiatives and actions that needed to be taken by government organisations and operators to broaden broadband access. According to the A4AI Affordability Index report, 84 per cent of Nigerians live on less than $2 per day and the World Bank notes that 63 per cent live on less than $1.25. A prepaid mobile broadband user subsisting on $2 per day, who wanted to use 1GB of data per month, would have to spend 22 per cent of their monthly income to do so. This, according to the Minister, is a far cry from the United Nations Broadband Commission’s target of five per cent. Omobola indicated the need to either have to increase the average monthly income or drastically reduce the average cost of access for Nigerians to meet this target. She suggested that both be done if the country is to achieve her economic, social and political aspirations. She noted that his informed why Nigeria is one of the first countries to join the Alliance for Affordable Internet when it was launched, incidentally in Abuja, during the Commonwealth Technology Organisation Forum in October 2013. But Dr.EugineEkemefunaJuwah , EVC, CEO of NCC has charged Nigerians to adopt and make maximum utilization of the broadband initiative in the telecommunications system, despite the realities of the likely hampering factors in Nigeria. Dr.Juwah said last year at the 11th edition of the annual Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation forum, held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Nigeria. He noted at the 3 day event, with the theme; “Innovation Through Broadband”, that the opportunities in the broadband initiative are enormous, but need to be maximised if its benefits must be felt in the different areas of life for which it was initiated. The NCC boss also identified data and huge bandwidth-driven applications as some of the challenges posing a threat to the exploration of the broadband initiative in the country. According to him, “It is a fact, that we have already identified the bright skyline of broadband, shining upon our telecom revolution of eleven years, which has witnessed huge deployments and take up of voice-based services to push our teledensity above 81 per cent as at July 2013, while data and huge bandwidth-driven applications are still a challenge. “We are in full realization of the impact of broadband to the overall development of the economy in terms of stimulation of business activities, providing support for other sector of the economy, providing better living and governance, and improving relations between Nigeria and other nations, especially with fellow Commonwealth countries.” On a similar notion, Dr.Ofosu-AdarkwaKwaku the Ghanaian Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, had last year emphasised the need for governments of the CTO countries to make broadband distribution affordable to potential beneficiaries, so as to allow accessibility to its numerous benefits. Kwakusaid the broadband distribution concept will be of no relevance to supposed beneficiaries if not made affordable for accessibility. According to him, “We must make sure that as we are developing broadband infrastructure in Nigeria, we should also make room for the mind to balance up for supply and demand. If the broadband facility is there and it cannot be accessed, what is the essence? It is of no use. So, the government has to make intervention to ensure that the facility can be used. And how do we do it? We must put in intervention to make the facilities affordable.” Citing Ghana as an instance, Kwakwu said that it was for similar reasons that the Ghanaian government is supporting the private sector to deploy into the rural areas. “Government on its own is using its intervention of what we call the Ghanaian Investment Fund for Electronic Communications to reach out to the people in the underserved areas, using common mast, so that telcos will not go there because of an economic venture, but will now have access to go and communicate and serve the populace. So, broadband is a media infrastructure for all, to now concentrate on developing”, Afosu said. Pricing, regulations hinder Internet penetration – Minister High cost of access and multiple regulations constitute major hindrances to the use of the Internet as well as the roll out of its infrastructure in the country, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs.Omobola Johnson, has said. Johnson said this at a forum organised by the Alliance for Affordable Internet to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web and to chart the way forward for the penetration of Internet in the country. The minister said the Nigerian Communications Commission remained the principal regulatory agency, but regretted that the other agencies that had oversight functions on the industry, including those of sub-national governments, were too many to deal with. Other stakeholders that spoke at the event also enunciated policy initiatives and actions that needed to be taken by government organisations and operators to broaden broadband access. Johnson said, “According to the A4AI Affordability Index report, 84 per cent of Nigerians live on less than $2 per day and the World Bank notes that 63 per cent live on less than $1.25. A prepaid mobile broadband user subsisting on $2 per day, who wanted to use 1GB of data per month, would have to spend 22 per cent of their monthly income to do so. “This is a far cry from the United Nations Broadband Commission’s target of five per cent. So, we either have to increase the average monthly income or drastically reduce the average cost of access for Nigerians to meet this target. I think the answer is that we must do both if we are to achieve our economic, social and political aspirations. “This informed why we were one of the first countries to join the Alliance for Affordable Internet when it was launched, incidentally in Abuja, during the Commonwealth Technology Organisation Forum in October 2013.”
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 08:41:29 +0000
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