By Prince Osuagwu

Despite attaining active telephone line connectivity of over 134
million and a teledensity of 96 percent, the Federal Government has admitted that there is much to do to achieve an all inclusive penetration of telecommunications to every part of the country.

From left: Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson and Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah displaying their Strategic Partnership Awards by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, at the ongoing ITU World 2014 in Doha, Qatar, while Secretary General of ITU, Dr. Hamadoun Toure (right) applauds.

Communication Technology Minister, Dr. Omobola Johnson made the open confession at the ongoing International Telecommunications Union, ITU Telecom World in Doha, Qatar.

Johnson said that the theme of  the conference – The Future in Focus, resonates with the vision of the Nigerian Government’s efforts to build a better and brighter future for the youths, especially using ICT.

The Minister who spoke at the Nigerian sponsored Leaders Lunch, at the Qatar National Convention Centre, venue of the ITU event, told the audience that in the last three and a half years, Nigeria has put in place key policies and initiatives that set the foundation for the widespread use of ICTs by government, businesses and citizens, to enhance their progress.

She noted that such efforts have made much impact and aided continued growth of the ICT and other sector of the economy as well as making tremendous contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

Earlier in his welcome address, Executive Vice Chairman, of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said he was particularly excited that the audience made out time to be at the Leaders Lunch which gives Nigeria the opportunity to interact with the world, update stories and share experiences.

According to him, “we will ruminate on our ICT potentials and opportunities as a nation, which we believe you may have influenced in one way or the other as opinion leaders in the industry.

Open Access model

“Our President, Goodluck Jonathan has approved an inclusive national implementation plan for effective nationwide pervasive broadband deployment.

From the regulatory perspective, NCC has entrenched the Open Access Model, which allows for inclusive, fair and transparent licensing processes as well as incentives for investors in the industry”.

“NCC has tested the Open Access Model and it is workable in Nigeria.

In February 2014, we successfully issued a wireless broadband licence for the 2.3 GHz frequency spectrum band. Regional fibre optics infrastructure deployment licence is currently being finalized for Lagos and the North Central region including Abuja, the capital of Nigeria”.

Untapped potentials

He added: “After that, the other five regions will follow thereby creating huge investment opportunities for both current and new investors, and both small and big ones.

“Although over 75millon people have access to the internet, they currently browse on the narrow band and with our current maturity on the voice segment, the data market remains untapped”.

Juwah later told his audience, including the outgoing Secretary General of the ITU, Dr. Hamadoun Toure,  that a lot more potentials and opportunities exist in the financial sector where banks are yawning for broadband services to enable their indispensable data services requirements.

He described the education sector as having very huge demand for broadband data applications just like government agencies. Earlier a  spectacular Opening Ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha brought together a glittering line-up of high-level participants, including Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ooredoo Group, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani,

Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of Information and Communications Technology, ictQATAR, Hessa Sultan Al Jaber and ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré.