Telecoms Operators Lament Poor Spectrum Management In Nigeria

Telecoms Executive & Regulators Forum (TERF). A forum where they industry stakeholders and players in the Nigerian telecom industry from regulators to practitioners came to discuss and proffer solutions on ways to better the industry. 

The Keynote address was presented by Olusola Teniola ,the current president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). In his opening remark” ATCON as a body is positioned to ensure that its members provide the best service in line with global best standards” he said.

The ATCON president also made a case of spectrum auctioning and encouraged the industry regulator , the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to ensure that those allocated spectrum are used rather than traded. However, due to the high cost of operational expenditure in the country, coupled with the scarcity of foreign exchange, this has necessitated some members of the body to trade or sell their spectrum.

Umar Garba Danbatta ,the EVC of NCC was ably represented , in the EVC 8 point agenda, the EVC said that it’s it the function of the NCC to be very open and transparent to the industry stakeholders. “ As a regulator, we are not pro technology and in our eight point agenda, one of the main points is hinged on broadband penetration/access that will be guided by global best practices that will ensure ease of citizens and good governance.” The EVC said .

The EVC continued “The national broadband Penetration’s plan is one of the agenda that the NCC is vigorously pursuing and today, Nigeria broadband has been adjudged as one of the fastest growing broadband globally. ”

Spectrum trading is one thing that the regulator is finding permisible in the industry. In the words of Lanre Ajayi,the former ATCON resident ” companies are finding the exchange rate difficult to get and die to the economic climate in the country, most investors will want to sell off their spectrum to intended buys that will make use of them rather than warehouse these spectrum. We feel excited that NCC is looking into the issue of spectrum trading ,” he remarked.

Engineer Austin , the director of NCC on spectrum management, opined that NCC will always advise on the best form of spectrum that the operator should go for, especially the would be entrants. NCC reiterated their position as a technology neutral organisation. Though, will render small advisory services to small entrants,this is in a bid to avoid complications in future.