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VIDEO: NCC's transformative role in broadband development commendable - ASCON
The Association of Submarine Cable Operators of Nigeria (ASCON) has commended the transformative role of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in championing broadband development in the country.
Ifeloju Alakija, ASCON President, who led a delegation of the association to the Commission on Wednesday, said NCC deserves commendation for its various policy initiatives and roles in deepening access to broadband services in the country, especially for the promotion of the landing of submarine cables on the shores of the country.
The Commission, through its auspicious 8-Point Agenda, which has as its topmost priority the need to facilitate broadband access, has succeeded in boosting broadband penetration to over 33.13 per cent till date.
This is in addition to the Commission’s commitment to the promotion of telecoms infrastructure investment drive and its resolve to deepen the intra- and inter-city transmission links to take the huge submarine bandwidth capacity in Lagos to the hinterlands to improve national connectvity.For this reason, Alakija stated that the ASCON’s visit was initiated to introduce the Association to the NCC management, highlight its aims and objectives and essentially seek areas of collaboration with the Commission towards protecting submarine cable assets in Nigeria.
Speaking on the centrality of submarine cable in the global economy, Alakija said that the world had transited from a satellite-based communications backbone of international connectivity to an era where over 95 per cent of transoceanic traffic is via submarine optic fibre cables because of their resilience and reliability.
“Submarine cables account for over 95 per cent of trans-oceanic and international connectivity and they cover over a million of kilometres in the world on the bed of the aquatic region. They also carry over 100 million simultaneous phones calls and data performing ceaselessly at staggering capacity,” he said.
He stressed the strategic importance of submarine cables to broadband provision in the country and the attendant transformation they bring to “our digital world, ranging from improved communication delivery, improved healthcare services, better proliferation of agricultural best practices, improved learning opportunities through online and cheaper self-driven education, better community and civic engagement, improve trade and commerce, as well as increased job creation.”
The ASCON leader added that all these will result in greater economic growth, economic development and healthy Gross Domestic product (GDP) outlook for the country.
Responding, Oluwatoyin Asaju, Director, Special Duties at NCC, who received the ASCON team on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, commended the team for supporting the NCC in achieving its agenda for promoting broadband penetration and strategic partnership.
Asaju, while stating that the Commission was fully aware of the strategic importance of submarine cable globally, and more importantly, to the Nigerian economy, expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the visiting team and promised to convey its requests to the EVC for consideration and appropriate action.