The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, this week, joined global leaders in Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) at the on-going 2021 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, reports ITREALMS.
ITREALMS gathered that the session on "Covering the costs of mobile connectivity" was held Tuesday over an hour 15 minutes at the CC4.1, Hall Upper Walkway.
Also, ITREALMS gathered that Danbatta spoke along Mario Maniewicz, Director, Radiocommunication Bureau, International Telecommunications Union(ITU); Hon. Timo Harakka, Minister of Transport and Communications, Finland; Amb. David Gross, Co-Chair, TMT Practice, Wiley Rein LLP; Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, Etisalat Group during the GSMA Ministerial Programme.
ITREALMS further gathered that the session description indicated that for the mobile sector, market economics and competition have been immensely successful at driving private-sector infrastructure investment and delivering mobile service that consumers demand. Today, over 95% of people worldwide have a mobile signal where they live. The formula becomes challenging, however, when a sufficient and timely return on investment cannot be foreseen, and this can affect rural and low-income communities as well as the rapid spread of 5G, for example.
Equally the panel of discussants examined the aspect of policy making taking a look at past the health crisis, they recognised connectivity as a must-have for citizens and businesses.
Experts noted that to achieve near-ubiquitous broadband, a pro-investment and pro-innovation regulatory environment is necessary, combined with cost-effective solutions to specific challenges such as infrastructure sharing. In this highly interactive session, industry leaders and policymakers will debate some of the toughest challenges related to mobile network investment and the long-term financial sustainability of the industry.
"Extracting funds from the mobile sector through taxation, spectrum licences and regulatory fees is counter-productive, considering that digital policies typically demand greater network investment by operators. What strategies can be used to get beyond this impasse?
"Can new technologies or alternative modes of connectivity provide a sustainable, scalable answer?
"What actions can governments take, and what has been successful to achieve connectivity targets?"
The GSMA Ministerial Programme is an invitation-only session.
Remmy Nweke/DoP
Pix: L-R: Mario Maniewicz, Director, Radiocommunication Bureau, International Telecommunications Union(ITU); Hon. Timo Harakka, Minister of Transport and Communications, Finland; Amb. David Gross, Co-Chair, TMT Practice, Wiley Rein LLP; Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, NCC; Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, Etisalat Group during the GSMA Ministerial Programme on Covering the Costs of Mobile Connectivity at the on-going 2021 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain.
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