The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the weekend held a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum to extensively interact with licensees and foster a harmonious relationship with them, identify their challenges and provide feedback on fulfilment of their license obligations.
The two-day meeting entitled “Talk to the Regulator,” which was held at Bristol Hotel, Kano, featured questions and answers from the participants, re-emphasising the role of licensees in ensuring good Quality of Service (QoS).
NCC’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the NCC considers stakeholder feedback as a critical component of the commission’s forward-looking regulatory model.
Danbatta said the commission will address the poor network at Kantin Kwari, Sabon Gari, Singer and Kurmi markets of the Kano metropolitan area.
“The commission will deploy an investigative team to determine the nature of the problem and proffer a solution. We have the capacity to monitor the performance of MNOs, which is very important. And because of this valid observation by our stakeholder, we will direct our searchlight in the affected areas where we think the quality of service needs to improve,” he said.
He also disclosed that the NCC is finalising the Information Memorandum (IM) for 5G deployment, emerging trends like the Internet of Things (loT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Over The Top (OTT) Services and Big Data Analytics, all aimed at initiating strategies to improve service delivery that is accessible and affordable.
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On the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, he said: “The objective of this forum is to get direct feedback from our licensees on how we, as a regulator, are meeting your expectations, and on areas where we can improve our regulatory service, particularly those that have to do with licensing.
“We also intend to use this forum to seek support for the several initiatives that the commission has carefully developed in our quest to enhance market opportunities for all our licensees,” Prof Danbatta said.
He added: “For the next five years, we will focus our energies on five strategic pillars, including organisational renewal for operational efficiency and regulatory excellence, facilitate the provision of infrastructure for a digital economy which fosters national development and improve quality of service (QoS) for enhanced Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE).
“We shall also promote fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment and innovative services and as well facilitate strategic collaboration and partnership.”
He disclosed that the Federal Government has articulated a number of critical policy objectives tor the sector such as those articulated in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Registration, among others.
He added that the instruments require the full and unalloyed commitment of all stakeholders to ensure their successful implementation, and the meeting in Kano would provide a veritable channel for licensees’ buy-in.