By Emmanuel Elebeke

STAKEHOLDERS at the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web forum on affordable internet have identified lack of fibre infrastructure, desired investment model to address the present challenges, public private partnership and multiple taxations, are major factors militating against the provision of affordable internet to Nigerian masses.

The forum, organised by Alliance for Affordable Internet, A4AI was used as a platform to introduce innovations to empower affordable internet access in Nigeria. A4AI is made up a diverse group of private, public and civil society sector players advocating for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets.

The forum brought together public and private sector representatives, technology leaders from across the country and the rest of the world who deliberated on key policies and regulatory challenges to greater internet affordability in Nigeria.

The discussions followed a moderated debate; interactive discussions; and the formation of a new national coalition.

It also opened up widespread dialogue that engendered policy change across Africa to see the formation of a new national multi-stakeholder coalition and action plan in Nigeria.

Executive Director, Alliance for Affordable Internet, Sonia Jorge, in her presentation at the occasion said, there was a great need for a strong fibre infrastructure, backbone beyond the backbone so that the services can be available to all and also said there was an incredible need for Nigeria to move towards the needed investment model to make internet access available to people.

“We identified few bottlenecks, not only by ourselves but by stakeholders in this forum for example the lack of fibre infrastructure; there is a great need for a strong fibre infrastructure, backbone beyond the backbone so that the services can be available; there is an incredible need for us to move towards the needed investment model, we suggest that Public Private Partnerships are a very good model to address the present challenges, because they not only bringing government resources together but also private sector resources.

“We also see challenges in terms of being able to reach the rural areas population that live in poverty. One of our key concerns in A4AI is how the under-served population can be reached. Right now in Nigeria, that population under-served is massive” she said.

She however challenged Nigeria to “support the process that is necessary for the development of the country, by making ICT and the  internet key platforms to bring development in many other sectors of the economy, like health, education, agriculture and industry”.

Also speaking, the representative of Data ZA limited, Elijah Omilaye, said the forum was important and useful. He charged the ministry of Communications Technology and related regulators to constantly interface with government and other relevant stakeholders in achieving affordable internet for all Nigerians.

“To overcome challenges, the regulators must relate with relevant stakeholders and ensure respect on both sides.

At the forum, the new national multi-stakeholder taskforce was launched with the primary objective of contributing towards government policy to empower affordable internet access.