NCC to unveil nationwide broadband plan

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has concluded arrangements to unveil its nationwide broadband Internet access plan at the forthcoming second stakeholders forum in Lagos.

A press statement from the organisers, NCC in collaboration with IT & Telecom Digest, said that the event would form platform for promotion of broadband technology in the country.

Head, Public Affairs and Government at NCC, Mr. Dave Imoko, informed that the commission is embarking on a groundbreaking nationwide road show during which it intends to educate Nigerians on a variety of issues with special emphasis on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and broadband internet.

The commission, he said, is taking this step in order to fully implement the federal government’s desire to provide access for all Nigerians to ICT tools and products.

“NCC would use the road show to prepare Nigerians and wake them up to what has been aptly termed the second phase of the ICT revolution in Nigeria,” the press statement read.

He disclosed that in order to give the road show a proper structure, NCC has finalised plans to begin with a seminar in Lagos, scheduled to hold on Friday, May 4, 2007.

The forum, which is the second in the series, the organisers said is to broaden the vision of stakeholders, stressing that apart from Lagos, the seminar would also be held in Abuja, Enugu and Calabar.

“Broadband Internet is the next critical stage in our telecom revolution, and we intend to use the road show and all activities embedded in it, including specifically the one-day seminar in Lagos, to educate the Nigerian public on the potential benefits of broadband internet and the commission’s plans to ensure that all Nigerians have access to the internet through broadband,” he said.

NCC, he noted, have also chosen to use the opportunity that the second stakeholders’ forum organised by IT & Telecom Digest because of the high profile nature of the magazine in the global sphere as well its focused initiatives to position the Nigerian telecom sector.

“It is the Commission’s plan to get Nigerians in every nook and cranny to become aware and to have access to the Internet using broadband, which is obviously a useful tool for connectivity today, and using the second stakeholders’ forum the commission is embarking on this road show to create awareness and educate the people, because just as the commission has made mobile telephone a useful tool for work and social life, so can we make the internet via broadband,” he said.

He pointed out that after one year of the successful introduction of the Unified Licensing Regime (ULR), NCC is taking the growth in the ICT sector to a new level with broadband internet, which is largely believed, will give access to most homes and offices in the country in a much faster rate and lower cost within the shortest possible time.

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