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Tag: Prof. Umar Danbatta

  • Nigeria telecommunication industry worth $67bn – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has revealed that the nation’s telecommunication industry is worth about $67 billion, according to Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta.

    He said this during his speech at the Nigeria Public Sector Branding Summit 2018 which took place in Abuja on Tuesday, hosted by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), and themed ‘Branding approach: A Tool for Enhancing Public Sector Objectives’.

    According to Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’s Senior Manager, Information and Reference Beluchi Nwanisobi, the private-sector driven industry has over 162m lines that are connected across the land.

    “Internet connection which used to be a nightmare has largely improved, and is now available on mobile terminals, making it possible for Nigerians to do banking and shop on the go, among other advantageous deliverables,” she spoke.

    “The NCC is a parastatal of government. But from all indications, it is not just an ordinary parastatal anymore; it is growing into a mega institution that is beginning to build the quality of a national treasure.

    “I am excited when people say, your organization doesn’t function like other government agencies.

    “I am thrilled by the number of applications that come in daily, of young men and women who want to seek a career in the organization, not just because there is a challenge in job placements but more specifically to help them build their lives.

    “What people see from outside takes some level of consistency, some level of boldness to resist threats from the various stakeholders, and above all, a strength of character to hold the internal stakeholders together and ensure that communications are right, with everybody heading to the same direction to achieve the clear vision of the Commission.”

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Arabi, represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, BPSR Wayagari Gulak, highlighted the importance of the summit, which he said is to act on the “mandate of conducting research on implementation efforts and present ‘best practice’ models’ in understanding the process of obtaining tax clearance, international passport, driver’s licence and national identity card through process mapping and/or process re-engineering.”

    The Summit aimed at proffering solutions to common Governance Constraints  to service delivery in four government services: the process of obtaining an International Passport from the Nigerian Immigration Service, Tax Clearance Certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, National Identity Card from the National Identity Management Commission, and Driver’s Licence from the Federal Road Safety Commission and Vehicle Investigation Office (VIO).

  • Broadband access critical for communication infrastructure policy

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission ( NCC), says broadband access is an important feature in communications infrastructure policy and  should be  treated as a key economic indicator.

    Danbatta stated this during the ICT Watch Network Award Ceremony held on Friday in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Broadband Access: National Scorecards and Roadmap to 2020’.

    According to him, broadband deployment has a strong impact on GDP, employment and productivity in all economic sectors.

    Read Also: ‘Mobile technology promoting credit access’

    “It can be seen all over the world that there is a higher economic growth in countries with more broadband penetration than countries with less broadband penetration.

    “Hence, governments and regulators worldwide are strongly in support and make every effort in promoting broadband deployment, in order to stimulate the development of the economy and the society.

    “The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) advocates that Broadband should be treated as an essential service like electricity and water, it is difficult to imagine life without water or electricity,” he said.

    Danbatta assured that the commission would continue to drive and support high speed broadband connectivity to end users through various initiatives.

    He said that initiatives such as licensing of InfraCos, on a regional basis, provide metropolitan fibre and wholesale transmission services on a non-discriminatory, open access and price regulated basis.

    The Executive Vice Chairman said the roadmap was to have fibre point of access in every Local Government Area  in in the country within four years of the commencement of deployments in each geopolitical zone.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 2.3GHz spectrum has been licensed for wholesale wireless last mile services.

    According to Danbatta, there are ongoing discussions with various levels of government to facilitate speed in processing permits, harmonisation of tax regimes and to ease the deployment of  infrastructure, including streamlining right of way charges.

    He said that there were also limitations and access gaps in metro fibre deployment to nodes, neighbourhoods and last mile connection to homes and businesses, which the government needed to address.

    “Since spectrum is a critical mobile infrastructure, the commission will strive to provide the required frequency spectrum capacity.

    “The commission will  facilitate the re-farming of existing spectrum held by operators to provide broadband services without impacting their quality of service delivery.

    “We will open up and assign other spectrum bands in an open and transparent manner,” he said.

    According to the Danbatta, the availability of broadband infrastructure will unlock new opportunities and drive a second wave of growth in the telecoms industry and the economy.

  • Nigeria’s mobile phone subscription hits 147m – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the country’s phone subscriptions have reached 147 million as at January this year.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this during the NCC Special Day at the ongoing 29th Enugu International Trade Fair.

    The fair was organised by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (ECCIMA).

    Danbatta, who was represented by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the country’s social media space had continued to thrive.

    “Our statistics continue to show positive movement in the provision of services with internet and phone penetrations standing at over 100 million and 147 million subscribers respectively in January 2018.

    “With broadband penetration of 21 per cent, Nigeria’s social media space has continued to thrive and citizens are enjoying access to modern ways of interaction in the cyberspace,” he said.

    Danbatta said Nigerians were not left behind with services and innovations that abound in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

    “It is our commitment to keep the nation abreast of developments in telecommunications industry through innovative and world class regulatory processes,” he said.

    He said Commission would soon issue directive to service providers to give 14 days’ window to subscribers to enable them roll over their unused data.

    “In other words, this will stop the current practice where subscribers lose unused data even if they fail to renew on the date of the expiration of the current subscription.

    “We have already put the service providers on special notice about our current monitoring of user experience relating to poor reception, wrong billings and deductions and will call them to account in due course,” he said.

    Earlier, the President of ECCIMA, Mr. Emeka Udeze, said the presence of the Commission at the fair was a well thought out strategy to interact with its various public in the South East.

    NCC

     

  • NCC, NSCDC sign MoU to protect telecom infrastructure

    NCC, NSCDC sign MoU to protect telecom infrastructure

    The Nigeria Communication Commission and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC)  on Wednesday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to protect critical Telecom infrastructure from vandalism and theft.

    Prof Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC signed on behalf of the commission, while Abdulahi Gana, Commandant-General of NSCDC signed for his organisation.

    According to Danbatta, the commission is leveraging on the reach of NSCDC to protect telecom infrastructure.

    He said that the infrastructure were being damaged and at times it could be unintended due to road construction.

    Read Also: Security breach: NCC summons telecom chief executives to Abuja

    The executive vice chairman said that the signing of the MoU had further lend credence to NCC’s commitment to secure the lives of Nigerians wherever they live, as well as protecting telecom infrastructure from vandalism across the country.

    “We are concerned about this infrastructure and, therefore, we pray that through this partnership with NSCDC they will be protected.

    “ These centres have been put in place to bring relief to Nigerians in distress.  They are provided to offer emergency services between the people in distress and the emergency agencies.

    On pre-registered SIM Cards,  Danbatta said  that  NCC  would not allow unscrupulous few among the citizens to use preregistered SIM cards to undermine the security of the country.

    “We must be seen to be doing everything within our mandate to end the use of unregistered SIM cards and, I want to warn those engaging in it to withdraw or the law will catch up with them.

    “We will do all we can to make sure they are not in circulation. We have taken some measures, in addition to electronic forms to ensure we give a good example of those who willfully use the preregistered SIM cards to  commit fraud.’’

    He also appreciated the assistance of the Corps to the protection of the centres which served as inter-face with the people.

    Earlier, the NSCDC commandant-general,   Abdulahi  said that it was the corps mandate to protect critical national infrastructure, adding that they were ready to provide the equipment, and fire arms to protect the national infrastructure.

    Gana said that the defence corps has offices not only in the 36 states but in the 774 Local Governments.

  • NCC restates commitment to qualitative services

    NCC restates commitment to qualitative services

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has reiterated the commission’s readiness to give qualitative telecommunication services to Nigerians.

    Danbatta said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the public inquiry on draft guidelines on spectrum trading.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that spectrum is a range over which some measurable property of a physical phenomenon such as the frequency of sound or electromagnetic radiation, or the mass of specific kinds of particles, can vary.

    He said that the public inquiry was to ensure that important national resource was optimally utilised for the delivery of qualitative telecommunication services.

    “Today we see the frame work that will facilitate optimal utilisation of the resource where a telecommunication company that owns a spectrum will like to trade it or when lease is allowed.

    “And that it can also be shared with another company, if need be.

    “The rules of engagement provided in today’s public inquiry  is to invite critical stakeholders in the country to make further input that will cumulate  in the production of a final guidelines on spectrum trading leasing and sharing.’’

    The NCC boss said that the commission would give two weeks for additional input from stakeholders before the board would give approval.

    “We are looking at two weeks to receive additional inputs there after the board will look at the draft and give approval within a month.

    “Let me assure you that the commission will bring innovative ideas that will keep faith with global trend in the telecom market because this is the only way to succeed,’’ he said.

    Mrs Yetunde  Akinloye, Head  Legal  and Regulatory Services Department, NCC, said that the general objective of the guidelines was to ensure  certainty and transparency in the processes of the commission.

    Akinloye said the commission had outlined the detailed procedure and conditions for spectrum trading in the Nigerian Communications sector.

    She listed the specific objectives of the guidelines as follows; to allow efficient and flexible transfer of spectrum to users that would optimise its usage.

    “Lessening the barriers to market entry by allowing flexible access to spectrum deepening competition.

    “Promoting innovation by enabling entrepreneurs to acquire spectrum and offer new services

    She added that the guidelines also covered various transactions through which spectrum could be traded on in the secondary Market.

    “The spectrum transactions envisaged under these guidelines are: spectrum transfer, spectrum leasing and spectrum sharing.”

    Mr Gwa Mohammed, Assistant Director in NCC, said that the commission received submissions from Airtel Networks Ltd., Emerging Markets Telecommunications Service Ltd., Smile Communications Ltd. and NATCOM Development and Investment Ltd.

    Mohammed  said that what was new in the guidelines was that anybody who had a spectrum could call on another person who did not have sufficient spectrum to share based on the guidelines provided by the commission to provide service for Nigerians.

    He said when there were enough spectrum; it would drive broadband penetration because when spectrum was available it wouldtake service “to the last mile”. (NAN)

  • NCC committed to achieving 30% broadband penetration by 2018 – Danbatta

    NCC committed to achieving 30% broadband penetration by 2018 – Danbatta

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it is committed to achieving the 30 percent approved National Broadband Implementation Plan by 2018.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, said this on Wednesday at the Nigeria Digital Innovation Conference in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference is sponsored by Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD) in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Communication and NCC.
    The theme of the conference is “Building a New Nigeria in Digital Economy: Policy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship’’

    Danbatta, who was represented by Mr Reuben Muoka, NCC Head of Public Affairs, said that the plan was part of the 8-point agenda conceptualised for comprehensive national economic growth.

    He said that Nigeria’s broadband penetration was empirically adjudged by the global telecom regulator, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as 21 percent in 2017. no

    “We have witnessed the success of online shopping malls, online banking and other transactions in a way that it is being experienced in far more developed countries.

    “We are supporting ICT innovations in our institutions of higher learning and among several youth organisations across the country, ’’ he said.

    Danbatta said that the Commission had taken the agenda as its guide in measuring regulatory impact and aligning development agenda in the course of regulating one of Africa’s biggest telecom market.

    The Executive Vice Chairman said that the NCC would not relent in its effort at promoting investment opportunities and selling the country’s investment potential to the international telecom community.

    The NCC boss also said that the toll-free 622 secondary consumer complaints initiative had been upgraded, adding that the success rate of resolution of consumer complaints on the platform had reached 75 percent.

    “We have intensified our monitoring and compliance activities to achieve sanity and compliance to the rules of the game.

    “We are in the process of introducing a mandatory corporate governance code to improve the level of integrity of the industry,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), said that lack of commitment to innovative ideas accounted for the 56 percent unemployment rate in the country.

    Sesan, who recalled how he made headway through strong innovation in 1997, charged students to stop giving excuses, saying such could limit their future.

    “I don’t think there is a reason for any student to graduate without a skill with the presence of the internet. Stop complaining about government.

    “What you become in the future is the product of whatever you start now,’’ he said.

    Mr Sunday Afolayan, President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), said the association was committed to ensuring that the identity and investment of Nigerians was maintained and protected.

    Afolayan also said that the association would ensure that Nigerians participated favourably in the digital space.

    Mr Bayo Oyeleke, Deputy Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan, thanked the organisers for choosing the institution as the venue for the conference in the South West Zone.

    Oyeleke said that the conference would open the windows for students who participate actively.

    NAN reports that the conference was organised to promote innovation in tertiary institutions and as an avenue for students to interact with stakeholders and experts in the digital innovation world.

  • Nigeria ranks 3rd in global internet crimes – NCC

    Nigeria ranks 3rd in global internet crimes – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said on Tuesday Nigeria currently ranks third globally in cyber related crimes behind the United Kingdom and United States.

    NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this at the ongoing 2017 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.

    The conference theme is: “African Business: Penetrating through Institution Building.”

    Danbatta, at a breakout session with the sub-theme: “The Business of Cyber Law, Internet Policy and Privacy Rights,” moderated by a former NBA president, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said the number of internet users in Nigeria has hit 91.6 million.

    He said: “About N127 billion was the estimated loss to cyber-crime in Nigeria in 2015; Nigeria ranks third in global internet crimes behind the UK and U.S.

    “A critical factor militating against Africa’s economic resurgence is the weakness of its institutions.

    “Nigeria ranks 169 out of 199 on the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings. We are in a middle of a revolution and the rise of what we call the networked society.

    “The NCC stipulates the laws of engagement that will make the cyberspace safe and ensure the confidence as well as the safety of the cyberspace.

    “There are benefits and risks of the use of cyberspace and both should be properly managed.”

    NAN

  • Danbatta tasks academia on solutions to challenges in ICT

    Danbatta tasks academia on solutions to challenges in ICT

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has charged the academia to research and come up with solutions to challenges plaguing the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

    Danbatta gave this charge on Thursday in a paper entitled: “The Place of Academia in the Telecoms Ecosystem’’ at the first Stakeholders Consultative Forum with Academia in Abuja.

    According to him, the academia should be able to go into research and find solution to issues such as channel congestion that had been hampering smooth communication by subscribers.

    He said that there seemed to be disconnections between the academia and the life on the streets as well as the daily expectations of the ordinary man.

    “The academia is not living up to our expectations when its expertise is not wired into the experience of the kind of market we are speaking about.

    “The academia should be at the vanguard of translating the technicality of technology to suit the needs of those who use them thereby making life easy for society.

    “It is the responsibility of the academia to reclaim its expected role by ensuring that research activities of its members will enhance and re-orient the market needs of the consumers and they will benefit from it.

    “The academia must attune itself to the reality on the street and search for solutions that can enhance life and businesses; it must contribute to the real world,’’ Danbatta said.

    The NCC boss said that the forum was important because the commission aimed to use it to help the academia to impact life and businesses with their research and scholarships.

    “The Nigerian Communications Act 2003, among others encourages the development of communications manufacturing and supply sector within the Nigerian economy.

    “It also mandates the promotion of effective research and development efforts by all communications industry partners,’’ he said.

    Danbatta therefore called on the academia to play a more productive role in the telecommunications industry with their researches having in focus the Buhari administrations change agenda of fighting corruption, providing employment and security.

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed called for strategic partnership among all stakeholders.

    “We need to work together to develop a list of competences and competences indicators to bridge the job gaps relevant in the telecom sector.

    “We need to equip most of our lecturers to be in tune with the global trend in technological advancement, lecturers must be competent in building the capacity of our students.

    “We need to enhance teachers’ quality, funding and have the correct focus for the funds.

    “There must be a well articulated plan on what funds should be used for and the time-frame when such objectives must be achieved,’’ Rasheed said.

    Rasheed said that the role of the commission was to leverage on adequate curriculum development and accreditation that would eventually lead to output management of best ICT products.

    Mrs Abigail Sholanke, the Director, Research and Development of NCC said the academia had its extensive relevance in contributing to growing knowledge to address concerns in the society.

    Sholanke represented by Mr Henry Okenwa, said research  was of great importance in the telecommunications industry as the level of competition and products of innovations were rapidly increasing.

    “The commission therefore is poised to consolidate its collaboration with the academia and chart new courses for the development of new models or modules of products in the telecommunications sector.

    “This will be done in conjunction with technical experts and the academia, the commission will also provide research grants for approved prototypes and research works,’’ he said.

    Sholanke said that the academia would be more effective if properly funded and structured, this he added could impact positively on business and society.

    “This was why the NCC wanted among other things to create a partnership with the academia,’’ she said.

  • NCC earmarks N23m for 2017 tennis tournament

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the commission has earmarked N23 million for this year’s NCC Tennis Cup tournament.

    Danbatta made this known in Lagos, during the unveiling of the 2017 NCC Tennis Cup and the draw for the participating teams for the tournament.

    The NCC boss said that the tournament, which entered its third edition,  had attracted best home and foreign tennis players.

    Represented by the Director, Special Duties, NCC, Mrs Iyabo Sholanke, he said that 12 teams had been selected for the competition, which would be held across the country.

    According to him, N17 million is the cash prize for the four best teams, while N6 million will be disbursed to the 12 teams towards their preparations for the tournament.

    “We have maintained the same prizes of the 2016 edition for the 2017 edition.

    “Therefore, the winning team will receive N7 million, the second best will go home with N5 million, the third will receive N3 million, while the fourth will earn N2 million for their efforts.

    “The number of participating teams have also increased from 10 last year to 12 for this edition.

    “All the teams will receive N500,000 each to support their preparations for the tournament,” he said.

    The EVC said that the idea of the tennis tournament was to harness talents for the growth of the sport in Nigeria.

    He said the tournament was one of the unifying sporting activity which had generated excitement across the country.

    Danbatta said that part of the objectives of the sponsorship was to give recognition to top tennis players, through prize monies and empower them to launch professional careers abroad.

    He said that it will also attract sponsorship to teams, which could train them with professional coaches as members of a squad.

    According to him, 10 of the top players have received ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in the past two years.

    “It is worth repeating that our choice to sponsor this tournament was guided principally by our commitment to be socially responsible.

    “And to invest in the development and sharpening of skills of our citizens, who could develop to the point of making living with this sport and also doing the nation proud by winning laurels

    “We are fulfilled with the impact, which this tournament has made in the Nigerian tennis circuit.

    “We are proud to have used this opportunity to engage a number of Nigeria youths in a very fruitful and engaging enterprise with a bright future outlook.

    “We are proud to have taken tennis to locations where high quality tennis has not taken place in a long time,” he said.

    The EVC said that the NCC Tennis Cup was a team tennis competition that was opened to all, including the very best male and female tennis players in Nigeria.

    He said that the tournament increased competition among the players, which was an advantage, when it came to preparation for other competitions within and outside Nigeria.

    Danbatta said that the tournament was endorsed by the National Tennis Federation (NTF) and had stakeholders in the Nigerian sports and telecommunications industry.

    The 12 teams were categorised into two groups of White and Blue.

    The teams under White Category are Team Ofikwu, Team Ndoma-Egba, Team Goshen, Team CBN Fututos, Team Yetade and Team Tech-Vibe.

    The Blue Group consists of Team Civil Defence, Team Kolatari, Team Muller, Team Opti Web, Team VGC Lions and Team Qualifier.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, applauded NCC for embracing sports initiative.

    Dalung called on other government agencies to emulate the NCC by integrating sports in their activities.

    NAN reports an organising committee was also inaugurated which is expected to fix a date for the tournament, among other assignments.

  • Nigeria requires 80,000 stations to join smart world – NCC

    Nigeria requires 80,000 stations to join smart world – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said Nigeria needs at least 80,000 telecommunication base stations to actualise its dream of being a smart country.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta said on Thursday in Lagos that such number of base stations would spur Nigeria to join countries working toward making Internet of Things (IoT) a reality.

    Danbatta said that IoT could be realised by leveraging on fourth generation (4G) and 5G networks.

    He said that the country currently has less than 50,000 base stations.

    “3G, 4G going to 5G networks are going to usher this country into smart applications, the Internet of Things or the smart world and cities we are talking about.

    “And of course because of the additional burden on infrastructure, the present capacity of telecommunications infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cater for these additional platforms or services we talk about.

    “Therefore, we will need from 70,000 to 80,000 base transceiver masts to be able to provide the effective capacity that is needed to deploy 4G going to 5G,” he said.

    Danbatta called on approving agencies at all levels of government in the country to synergise with NCC with a view to achieving the 80,000 target.

    He said that the United Kingdom, with a population of almost one third of Nigeria already has close to 60,000 masts.

    On concerns about health implications to exposure to electromagnetic field, Danbatta said that researches so far conducted in the area had not indicated any adverse health concerns.

    “With regards to other professional bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), we don’t have any quarrel with their positions.

    “The only question is when we say exposure to electromagnetic field is hazardous to health, what level are we talking about.

    “We have to define the level of exposure that is hazardous to human beings.

    “Of course, if you generate a massive electromagnetic field of unprecedented proportion and put a person inside, there will be medical consequences.

    “But what we are saying is that provided the limit specified is observed and NCC is there to ensure compliance with that limit, there is no health hazard,” he said.

    According to him, there is a limit of safety below which electromagnetic fields do not cause any harm to health.