NCC gets N47bn from spectrum sale
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said it has made N47billion from the sale of spectrum to telecommunication companies in the country in the past one year.
NCC recently announced plan to establish additional zonal offices across the country as part of efforts to enhance its operations.
NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Garba Dambatta, at a press conference in Abuja, said broadband penetration, which was the cornerstone of the agenda, has improved tremendously, moving from between eight and 10 per cent to 20.95 per cent, while internet penetration has hit 47.44 per cent which is second only to South Africa.
He said: “The commission has encouraged the refarming of the various frequencies to improve their efficiency. Through this process, some service providers who were hitherto providing services on the 1800 megahertz (MHz) spectrum band have been allowed to refarm and deploy services on the 4GLTE band.
“Through this, the commission has been able to revive some of the companies whose services have been hampered by the characteristics of the frequencies.
“Through efficient monitoring and value-driven usage of spectrum for provision of different types of service, revenue generation for the Federal Government through frequency allocation and renewal fees have improved in the previous years. More than N47billion was realised in spectrum usage and licensing within the period under review.”
Dambatta, who attributed the feat to the eight-point agenda he outlined for the commission on his assumption of office in August last year, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu for their support for the NCC and its new leadership.
He said the eight-point agenda which was factored upon the tripod of availability of service, accessibility of service and affordability has started to yield the desired results as the telecom sector now contributes more than 10 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
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