By Chinenye Anuforo
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged telecom companies in Nigeria to work together and share infrastructure. This collaboration aims to reduce costs and improve service delivery for mobile phone users across the country.
The NCC’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Aminu Maida, made the recommendation during the recent West African Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition in Lagos.
He highlighted the high cost of building telecom infrastructure and suggested public-private partnerships, infrastructure funds, and innovative financing models as solutions.
Nigeria boasts over 219 million mobile subscribers, but faces challenges like uneven service distribution and limited infrastructure in some areas. The NCC believes that infrastructure sharing can address these issues and pave the way for growth and innovation.
Looking ahead, the NCC also emphasized the importance of embracing new technologies. Telecom operators are encouraged to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize networks, predict maintenance needs, and improve customer service. Additionally, developing “smart infrastructure” is seen as crucial to support smart city applications like traffic management and public safety solutions.
Nigeria is at the forefront of technological advancements with the rollout of 5G. This next-generation technology promises faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity, enabling applications like the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and smart cities.
Maida said that the 6G revolution would transform industries from agriculture to healthcare, creating efficiencies and improving lives.
According to the NCC boss, for telecoms, it means a massive increase in connected devices and a shift in data management strategies.