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| Nigeria Communication Commission |
While celebrating the breakthrough of the industry, plans should be put in place towards ensuring that the sector gravitates to another level from what is currently obtainable. Having emerged as one of the fastest-growing telecoms market in the world with the largest number of connected and active mobile lines in sub-Saharan Africa, which is placed at over 100 million by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), some challenges have continued to mar the sector, and almost making rubbish of its gains.
The Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, in a recent statement, identified the increase in rural telephone penetration, development of incubation centre, new right of way guidelines, launch of student PC ownership scheme among others as its achievement in the ICT industry in 2012.
The ministry, which was created by President Goodluck Jonathan some 14 months ago to fast-track the development of the information and communications technology (ICT) in the country, however failed to identify its shortcomings. Stakeholders in the ICT sector have however, continued to call for drastic resolution in tackling various impediments which conspicuously hindered the further growth of the sector.
According to them, optimising and complementing existing policies to enable subscribers get value for their money as well as growing the emerging market to place Nigeria as a foremost leader in global technology market remain some of the common challenges faced by the sector in 2012.
Telecoms Sector and Service Quality Though a lot of promises was made by the government and regulators in the industry to pursue network stability, coupled with the fine on GSM mobile operators and the ban of promos and lotteries, no doubt, Nigeria is still stuck on the ladder in terms of general development in ICT.
THISDAY Nigeria