Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said that Zinox Technologies Limited, the licenced infrastructure company (InfraCo) for the Southeast geopolitical zone will link all the 95 local government areas with broadband connectivity.
Danbatta disclosed this on Tuesday at the Anambra State Broadband Infrastructure Development Stakeholders Forum held Virtual in Awka, the state capital.
The stakeholder’s forum was themed: “facilitating Broadband Access in Anambra State through a favourable Right of Way Regime”.
Speaking at the event, the EVC thanked the host, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Dr. Willie Obiano, his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, and all the other eminent members of Cabinet for hosting the Forum, said the Commission in the drive for Broadband has licensed Infrastructure Companies for the South East and five other zones of the Federation including Lagos as a special zone.
“Under this initiative, the South-East Infraco licensee (Messrs. Zinox Technologies Ltd.) will be required to provide at least one Point-of-Access (PoA) in each of the 95 LGA’s that constitute the region and interconnect them with 1,314Km of Optic Fiber Cable (OFC).
“Right-of-Way (RoW) charges, is a major limiting factor to provision of broadband services in Nigeria, as it slows down network deployment with the cost of the limited capacities ultimately passed to the subscribers,” he said.
He disclosed that the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) and the Commission’s Management led by his humble self are committed to keep dialoguing with the Federal and State Governments to lower the charges to N145 per linear meter earlier agreed or waive the charges entirely.
He noted that this is the path to progress in government’s drive for Broadband propelling rapid roll-out of services and better the livelihood of Nigerians through the myriads of services that come with the Digital Economy where Fibre Infrastructure play a major role.
“I must applaud His Excellency and Anambra state, who is one of the two states that have not just reduced the Right of Way charges offered to operators, but waived it completely, for this, we are eternally grateful. This action, is sure, to put Anambra State on the global map of Digital Economy.
“Result of study has shown that for every 10 percent increase in Broadband penetration, there is a corresponding 1.38% increase in GDP.
|This RoW waiver, will also make Anambra State more attractive to Network operators and attract investment in the infrastructure needed to support economic wellbeing of your Excellency’s economic jurisdiction,” added Danbatta.
Giving up the RoW fees today is like separating seed that you will sow to guaranty a prosperous future (Digital foundation) in numerous thematic areas: Commerce, Education, Agriculture, Finance and Trade Education Health and Social, Business and Industry, Transport and energy, Safety and Security e.t.c, he concluded.
