Lagos, Nov 11, 2023 – The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) plans to ensure that communication services reach at least 80 percent of Nigeria’s population, particularly the underserved and unserved, by 2027.
The Commission also plans to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70% by the end of 2023 by laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, said these in a keynote address at the just concluded Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 3.0) in Lagos.
He said provision of infrastructure was at the heart of the five pillars of the Strategic Blueprint of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Maida, who was represented by Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, said through infrastructure deployment within the TaaS model, businesses would have the power to access and utilise cutting-edge technology, catering to their needs without the shackles of long-term commitments or heavy investments.
“At the heart of the five pillars of the Strategic Blueprint of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is Infrastructure.
“The role of critical infrastructure in enabling TaaS cannot be overemphasized; it is thus the goal of the Commission to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70% by the end of 2023 through the laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.
“In a similar vein, and in line with the vision of the Ministry, we are targeting the provision of coverage for at least 80% of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027,” he said.
Maida said that there was the need for service providers to leverage infrastructure deployment to drive Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) to propel the country into a future where technological barriers are minimized, and possibilities are limitless.
The EVC said the deployment of infrastructure formed the backbone of TaaS, stressing that organisations could harness cloud solutions, edge computing, and other advanced technologies by leveraging scalable and efficient infrastructure.
He said that the dynamic nature of infrastructure deployment also ensured that businesses had the right tools at the right time without the constraints of physical infrastructure.
Maida said that the cornerstone of TaaS lied in its ability to revolutionise how technology deployment is approached, emphasising that traditionally, organisations would grapple with the complexities of infrastructure ownership and management, which is often a costly and inflexible endeavour.
“However, through infrastructure deployment within the TaaS framework, there is a paradigm shift where the burden of infrastructure ownership is alleviated, and the focus is shifted to accessibility, scalability, and service-oriented solutions.
“It enables on-demand access to a vast array of technological resources and services, providing the flexibility to scale resources according to immediate needs, without the constraints of traditional ownership models.
“It is about unlocking the power of technology without being encumbered by the weight of infrastructure maintenance and management.
“This innovative approach carries with it a multitude of benefits. Firstly, it diminishes the financial burden by transforming capital expenditures into operational costs.
“This allows businesses to redirect resources to innovation and growth rather than fixed infrastructure expenses.
“Secondly, it offers unparalleled agility, enabling organisations to pivot, expand, or contract rapidly in response to market demands.
“Moreover, infrastructure deployment within TaaS ensures that the latest technologies and updates are readily available, eliminating the overhead of constant maintenance and upgrades.
“It enables on-demand access to a vast array of technological resources and services, providing the flexibility to scale resources according to immediate needs, without the constraints of traditional ownership models.
Maida said the role of critical infrastructure in enabling TaaS could not be overemphasized.
“It is about unlocking the power of technology without being encumbered by the weight of infrastructure maintenance and management.” (GBN)
