The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is setting up a telecommunications targeted sectorial Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) centre, just as there are enormous potential for growth and investment, reports ITRealms.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made this disclosure in his remarks to the 27TH AFRINIC Meeting (AFRINIC-27) on-going in Lagos.
According to the EVC, the NCC Computer Security Incident Response Team center, would collaborate with the compliment the efforts of the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) which is domicile in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
He explained that CSIRT would complement ngCERT in tackling issues that relate to the telecommunications industry in the fight against cybercrime.
Equally, he noted highlighted that NCC at the international level, is partnering with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to set up Africa Regional Cybersecurity Center (RCC) in Abuja.
“The center will be used for Africa Regional Cybersecurity information sharing (cyber-attacks, threats, malwares and viruses etc) and also to train countries within the Africa sub-region on Cybersecurity related issues,” he said.
Further, he said, Broadband access is key to any national development agenda, and the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013 has set a target of 30 per cent penetration by 2018,
“The Commission (NCC) recognizes its prime responsibility in the actualization of the NBP, as one of the strategic objectives revered in its 8-Point Agenda, “facilitation of broadband penetration” which will enable the NCC meet and even surpass the 30 per cent target of broadband penetration in the country by 2018, as at September 2017 (Broadband Commission 2017), the Nigeria broadband penetration stands at 21.8 per cent..
In addition, he pointed out at the meeting with the theme “Taking the African Internet to the Next Level through Policy, Collaboration and Education” that the African Regional Internet Registry AFRINIC, has contributed a lot in providing platforms for Internet Development in Africa, from about 4.5 million Internet Users in 2002 to over 388 Million users in 2017.
Danbatta further said that with regards to growing broadband penetration in Nigeria, the Commission has planned for two slots in the 700MHz band have been earmarked for Commercial Broadband deployment; The 800MHz band also known as the Digital Dividend 1 has been re-planned and licensed for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment; and the 900MHz E-GSM band has been licensed for 4G LTE deployment;.
The NCC boss equally said that 70/80GHz band (E-Band) has been opened to facilitate Broadband deployment; whereas 2.3 GHz band was licensed for 4G LTE deployment; part of the 1800MHz band has been re-farmed by some Mobile Operators for 4G LTE deployments.
“This means that there is enormous potential for growth and investment,” he declared.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
Pix: Prof. Danbatta
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