NCC launches N800 billion National Communications Backbone project

• NCC launches N800 billion National Communications Backbone project
• Actualizing broadband targets
• Committee’s Term of Reference

To hasten the installation of broadband infrastructure throughout the nation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has established an N800 billion National Communications Backbone project. To this purpose, the NCC recently established an industry-wide group that will oversee the project’s execution.

The project, according to the NCC, will speed up the achievement of the 70% internet penetration target set in the Nigeria National Broadband Plan and allow the spread of broadband services in the nation (NNBP 2020-2025).

Realizing broadband goals: The National Broadband Infrastructure Joint Committee (NBIJC), which is led by Dr. Augustine Nwaulune, Director of Digital Economy at NCC, will assist in the effort to achieve Nigeria’s broadband ambitions. Members of the committee include tower companies, infrastructure companies, and mobile network operators (MNOs) (TowerCos).

Why the committee was formed: The NCC’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Josephine Amuwa, presided over the Committee’s inauguration on behalf of Professor Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), and stated that the committee was created in response to the need for a broad-based industry approach to address issues preventing the achievement of broadband targets.

According to Danbatta, the Committee is intended to advance the goals set by the NNBP, such as the installation of 120,000 kilometers of fiber across the nation, the deepening of broadband penetration to 70% by 2025, and the linking of 60% of communication towers with fiber (ToR).

“I appreciate your willingness and readiness to make a considerable investment of time and talent to participate in this Committee. We appreciate that you will provide an invaluable perspective as we seek to address gaps impeding the actualization of the NCB and NNBP initiatives.

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“The depth and scope of experiences represented by the broad spectrum of this Committee’s membership will, no doubt, provide the Commission with much-needed insight and drive to overcome the challenges facing broadband infrastructure deployment in the country, and even exceed the current set targets,” the EVC stated.

Improved MNO and InfraCo collaboration is one of the six points of the Committee’s ToR. Another is the building of an NCB network architecture and a harmonized plan that will produce a more compelling business case that will draw investors. They will also promote infrastructure deployment and create synergy between MNOs and InfraCos.

In order to present the project, which is anticipated to cost N800 billion, for acceptance and financing, the committee will work with NCC to conduct an NCB finance workshop and invite all the main financial institutions, MNOs, and InfraCos.

The committee is also required to begin communication with identified financial sources, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), among others.