The Federal Government is to implement what the telecoms regulator cites as “State Structures” to actualise the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.
The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, which targets 70% broadband penetration and covers 90% of the population was conceived to spread high-speed internet coverage across the country.
Mr Rueben Muoka, Public Affairs Director of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) dropped the hint about the plan ahead of the maiden edition of Broadband Technical Awareness Forum for Governors (BTAF) organised by the telecoms regulator.
The new Broadband Plan, the NNBP says, “is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at a price not more than ₦390 per 1GB of data, that is 2% of median income or 1% of minimum wage.”
NCC: BTAF will accelerate Nigerian National Broadband Plan
According to Mr Muoka, the objective of BTAF “is to promote the establishment of State Structures required for sustainable broadband infrastructure development at the State and Local Government Council levels, thereby addressing hindrances to the Federal Government’s drive to achieve available, accessible and affordable broadband services for Nigeria’s economy.”
The BTAF, Mr Muoka says, “is expected to affirm the commitment of the government to adopt the broadband structure and last-mile projects, particularly the economic viability of broadband deployments beyond the cities, with a strategic focus on funding models and procedures for remarkable and measurable impact.”
He says that there will be a special panel session involving the Governors and development-focused partners both at the local and international levels.
Under the plan, all State Governors in Nigeria will discuss how to empower the citizens with the latest telecoms technologies when they participate at the BTAF.
The programme, which takes place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Hotel in Abuja on October 20, 2022, and themed: “State Broadband Coordinating Councils: Potentials and Possibilities,” will appraise the NNBP.
Professor Isa Pantami, Communications, and Digital Economy Minister will host the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), some strategic members of the State Executive Council, telecoms operators, infrastructure companies (InfraCos), strategic partners, investors, and other critical stakeholders that “will brainstorm on how Nigeria can achieve the expectations of Nigeria’s digital economy agenda,” NCC says.
Professor Adeolu Akande, Chairman of the NCC Board, and Professor Umar Danbatta, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) will participate at the BTAF.
The Nigerian National Broadband Plan ‘to diversify economy’
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says that digital technology offers Nigeria the opportunity to grow and diversify its economy from the overdependence on oil and gas export proceeds, under plans laid out in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 (NNBP).
“With a teeming population estimated at 203 Million according to the United Nations (UN), the NNBP says, “where over half of the population is under 25 years of age, the country is faced with the tremendous challenge to put this largely unemployed and underemployed population to work.
“Rapid rollout of broadband services will address various socio-economic challenges faced by the country, including the need to grow its economy, create jobs, rapidly expand the tax base, and improve digital literacy and educational standards. This will also address identity management and security challenges through the effective use of technology, increase financial inclusion and deliver a broad range of services to its people to improve the quality of life and work towards attainment of Social Development Goals set by the UN for 2030,” the NNBP says.
The Federal Government says that Nigeria “faces an urgent imperative to deploy a new Broadband Plan in line with these objectives, which have been proven in other countries to make a significant contribution to lifting citizens out of poverty.
The new Broadband Plan, the NNBP says, “is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at a price not more than ₦390 per 1GB of data, that is 2% of median income or 1% of minimum wage.”
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