Tag: Telecom

  • Nigeria’s Telecom Contribution to GDP Hits 16% – Danbatta

    Nigeria’s Telecom Contribution to GDP Hits 16% – Danbatta

    Says broadband penetration to hit 50% by year-end

    The telecommunications sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased significantly to 16 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, according to the data reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) based on the computation by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated this in a keynote address delivered at the annual Telecom Executives and Regulators Forum (TERF) hosted by the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos on Thursday (today).

    According to Danbatta, from a 14.13 per cent contribution in the first quarter of 2023, and up from the hitherto 15 per cent all-time-high record contributed in the second quarter of 2022, the telecommunications sector added 16 per cent to the national GDP in the second quarter of 2023 to set a new record.

    Danbatta, while speaking on the theme: “Success Factors and Barriers to National Broadband and Digital Economy Aspirations”, took the audience, promising executives of telecom companies and other industry stakeholders, through the giant strides being made by the Commission.

    From about 8 per cent contribution to GDP in 2015, when Danbatta came on board as the EVC of NCC, he said quarterly GDP has increased significantly to reach its current threshold of 16 per cent and that this has continued to positively impact all aspects of the economy.

    “Through sustained regulatory excellence and operational efficiency by the Commission, the industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the past two decades and this has impacted on all other sectors of the economy. The effective regulatory regime emplaced by the NCC and with the support from all stakeholders has been our major success factor as an industry,” Danbatta said.

    The EVC stated that while there are barriers to broadband deployment in the country, ranging from the issue of right of way (RoW), fibre cuts, high capital requirement for deployment, multiple taxations and regulations, among other challenges, the NCC is navigating regulatory complexities, digital divide and literacy, security concerns with firmness and increased collaborations with necessary stakeholders such as ATCON to create measures towards tackling the challenges.

    On the RoW challenge, the EVC said there are about 46 different taxes directed at the telecom sector at the moment. Such charges and levels, coming in various names, are imposed on telecom operators by some agencies and tiers of government, especially at the state and local levels. Danbatta said the challenge translates into greater economic burdens on telecom subscribers in the country.

    Speaking about connectivity, Danbatta said, “Over the years, we have identified some clusters of access gaps all over the country but we have recorded a significant drop in the number of access gaps, as we continue to drive initiatives that boost access to telecommunications services.”

    He stated that the Commission does this by enlisting government commitment to a digital economy with robust policy frameworks, promotion of investment and funding, stimulation of infrastructure development, digital inclusion and literacy, promotion of competition and market liberalization, effective allocation of spectrum, as well as driving the e-government ecosystem.

    Danbatta said with various ongoing regulatory efforts, “The NCC is confident that we are going to reach 50 per cent broadband penetration threshold by the end of 2023 and by 2025, we would have met and possibly surpassed the 70 per cent broadband penetration target, as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025.”

    The EVC particularly commended ATCON and its members for being partners in progress and for constantly engaging the Commission in constructive ways towards finding solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the industry. The EVC said a national broadband network and a thriving digital economy are not without their challenges.

    “However, these challenges can be overcome through determination, innovation, and strategic planning. By focusing on the success factors and addressing the barriers, we can create a future where every Nigerian have access to the opportunities that the digital world offers,” he added.

    Danbatta also stated that the success of the nation’s digital aspirations is beyond technological advancements but also about transforming lives, driving economic growth, and ensuring that a nation remains competitive on the global stage.

    “As we work together to navigate this path, I enjoin all our stakeholders in the public and private sectors to remain committed to building a brighter and more connected future for our country,” he said.

  • Telecom Sector Contributes N2.508 Trillion to Nigeria’s GDP

    Telecom Sector Contributes N2.508 Trillion to Nigeria’s GDP

    The telecommunications and Information Services sector in Nigeria has, in the first quarter 2023, delivered a handsome N2.508 trillion in terms of financial value contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), representing 14.13 per cent.

    Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the sector recorded a 4.3 per cent. increase from its performance in the last quarter of 2022 when it recorded 13.55 per cent. .

    When compared on a year-on-year basis, the growth showed positive progression from 12.94 per cent. in the first quarter of 2022 , to the 2023 figure of 14.13, which is an approximate growth by 9.19 per cent. .

    The percentage of telecom contribution to GDP was calculated from 46 distinct sectors of the economy, which constitute telecom and information services baskets.

    The Nigerian telecom industry has continued its show of positive outlook, which is credited to the innovative and predictable telecom regulatory environment promoted, and implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    One of the key highlights of the telecom industry performance within the period was the generation of $820.8 Million for the federal government from 5G spectrum licences fees paid by three eventual winning operators, MTN, MAFAB and Airtel.

    Following the issuance of the licences in December 2021 to MTN and MAFAB, both companies have launched 5G services. Airtel, which received its licence in December 2022, is set to launch services this month, June 2023.

    Another major development in the sector was the launch of Starlinks broadband services, a satellite-based wireless broadband services with potential nationwide coverage. This followed the issuance of licence to Elon Musk-owned SpaceX by the Commission. The services are now available in different parts of the country.

    Meanwhile, the growth statistics of the telecom industry are showing an impressive record of contributions to the economy. The number of phone subscribers as at April 2023, stood at 223.6 million subscribers, scoring a teledensity of 117 per cent. . Internet subscribers for the same period were 157 million while Broadband subscriptions stood at 92 Million, translating to 48 per cent. broadband penetration in the country.

  • Zamfara State Govt. Lifts Suspension Of Telecom Services In Zamfara

    Zamfara State Govt. Lifts Suspension Of Telecom Services In Zamfara

    Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has announced the suspension of the ban on telecommunications services in the state.

    He made the announcement on Saturday at an event in Gusau, the state capital, where he stated that the resumption of telecommunications services would begin on Monday.

    “I want to announce today (Saturday) that we have taken a decision to lift the ban on telecommunications in the state,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement by Zailani Bappa, his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media, and Communications.

    “God’s Willing, as from next Monday we shall have that effected.”

    He explained that the decision to suspend the measure was informed by the encouraging report of peace attained in the nooks and crannies of the state.

    Governor Matawalle, who made the announcement at the convention of the state chapter of the All Progress (APC) held at the trade fair complex in Gusau, believes bandits have taken the desired toll meant by the measure.

    He thanked the people of the state for their patience and perseverance throughout the trying period and assured them that his administration would continue to take any measure necessary to preserve peace and protect their lives and property.

    At the conclusion of the convention, the governor called on APC members in the state to extend their support to the new executive committee members in the state.

    The convention was chaired by the Planning Committee Chairman from the National Headquarters of the APC, Ibrahim Masari, who announced a consensus of the party in all the 36 elective positions.

    Senator Sahabi Yau, who represents Zamfara South senatorial district in the National Assembly, moved the motion for consensus, and it was seconded by a frontline member of the party in the state, Sani Jaji.

    Mr Tukur Dan Fulani Gusau was returned as the newly elected chairman of the APC in Zamfara while Mr Ibrahim Dangaladima emerged as the new secretary of the party in the state.

    The new EXCO members emerged after the Caretaker Committee of the party under Senator Hassan Nasiha was dissolved via a motion moved by a former governor of the state, Mamuda Shinkafi.

  • Telecoms Subscription base rises to 190.8m in Nigeria

    Telecoms Subscription base rises to 190.8m in Nigeria

    Subscriptions across all telecommunications networks in Nigeria have maintained a steady growth pattern in one year, reaching 190,806,067 in April.

    This represented a marginal increase by 0.80 per cent or 1,523,271 as against the 189,282,796 recorded the previous year.

    The latest data, obtained from Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) website yesterday, shows that in the past one year, there has been a proportionate increase in the number of teledensity, which is measured by the number of active telephone connections per 100 inhabitants living within an area and is expressed as a percentage figure.

    However, the data revealed a sharp drop in the number inward porting from 16,046 in March 2020, to 7,148 in April.

    According to the statistics, in June 2019, the number of telecoms subscriptions was 174,024,116 with a teledensity of 91.17 per cent, but the figure rose in July to 174,950,011 subscriptions with a teledensity of 91.65 per cent.

    Last August, the figure rose again to 176,897,879 subscriptions with a teledensity of 92.67 per cent and jumped in September to 179,176,930 subscriptions with a teledensity of 93.87 per cent.

    The figure continued to rise in October 2019 to 180,386,316 with a teledensity of 94.50 per cent and in November 2019, telecoms subscriptions rose again to 182.7 million with a teledensity of 95.7 per cent.

    In December 2019, it reached 184,699,409 with a teledensity of 96.76 per cent, before rising to 186,023,609 in January, with a teledensity of 97.45 per cent; 187,435,841 in February, with a teledensity of 98.19 per cent.

    According to the NCC statistics, the total number of subscribers that ported from one network to another, in search of better service quality, decreased.

    Airtel had only 2,246 incoming porting in April this year, as against 5,594 incoming porting it had in March. 9Mobile, which recorded the highest number of incoming porting, had a total of 3,829 porting subscribers in April as against 8,225 incoming porting it had in March.

    MTN had only 985 incoming porting in April as against 1,965 in March while Globacom, which recorded the least number of porting, had only 88 incoming porting in April as against 262 the previous month.

  • I directed the new USSD charges immediate suspension – Dr. Isa Pantami

    I directed the new USSD charges immediate suspension – Dr. Isa Pantami

    By Jennifer Y Omiloli

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has directed the immediate suspension of the new USSD tariff.

    The minister made this disclosure on the ministry’s official twitter handle.

    Reacting to the proposed USSD charges, the minister said there is no justification for the new tariff.

    Dr. Pantami went further to take action by directing its immediate suspension and giving a stern warning to telecom operators, stating that the ministry will not fail to appropriately sanction violators of the directive.

    “After receiving briefing about the proposed USSD charges, I realized there was no justification for the new tariff, consequently, I directed it’s immediate suspension, any telecom operator that violates this directive would be sanctioned appropriately” the minister said.