The NCC says all investors, whether local or foreign, will continue to receive support to help develop the digital economy of the country
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has pledged to support initiatives that promote the growth and development of the digital economy.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said this when he received a delegation of Meta, led by the company’s Vice President for Africa, the Middle-East and Turkey, Kojo Boakye, when they visited NCC’s headquarters in Abuja recently.
This is made known in a statement by the director of public affairs of the NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka.
The NCC boss stressed that the commission is happy to encourage investors like Meta (formerly Facebook) who respond positively to Nigeria’s desire for investments that promote the renewed hope agenda of the federal government.
While promising regulatory support to all investors, including operators in Nigeria, he predicated on their playing by the rules and regulations guiding the telecoms sector.
According to the statement, Dr. Maida said the commission places a lot of premium on compliance with industry laws, regulations, and guidelines as such will also engender a level playing field for all licensees and other stakeholders in the industry for sustaining healthy competition and guaranteeing sustainable growth in the Nigerian telecoms sector.
Boakye informed NCC boss that the purpose of the visit was to congratulate the EVC on his appointment by the President and to intimate him of ongoing efforts to land 2Africa Cable in Nigeria.
At 45,000 kilometres long, Boakye said the 2Africa submarine cable will be one of the world’s largest subsea cable projects and will interconnect Europe (eastward via Egypt), Asia (via Saudi Arabia), and Africa. He said the system will go live in 2023, delivering more than the total combined capacity of all subsea cables currently serving Africa, with a design capacity of up to 180 terabytes per second (Tbps).
Boakye stated that 2Africa will deliver much-needed Internet capacity and reliability across large parts of Africa, supplement the fast-growing capacity demand in the Middle East and underpin further growth of 4G, 5G and fixed broadband access for billions of people, especially in Nigeria.
He solicited NCC’s support in sailing through all necessary legal and regulatory hurdles in landing the submarine cable to complement existing backbone infrastructure in Nigeria. He also said Meta, through a consortium, plans to land 2Africa cable simultaneously in Lagos and Akwa-Ibom States “in order to ensure those not yet connected are connected while those already connected are given opportunity for enhanced and affordable access.”
