Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Thursday, held its Special Day at the on going 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair, with an assurance to protect telecommunication consumers and allow level playing ground for operators.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Prof Garba Umar Danbatta, gave the assurance in his address.
He said that the Commission was committed to protecting and empowering consumers irrespective of their class, from unfair practices by service providers.
Represented by the Enugu Zonal Controller,NCC, Ogbonnaya Ugama, the Vice Chairman said that the assurance was based on their regulatory mandate of ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services deserve to get value for their money and to be treated right as very important stakeholders.
He disclosed that NCC was on the verge of deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) network in Nigeria.
” Already, spectrum licences for the companies that will roll out services have been issued.
“Though the deployment will start from the state capital and gradually extend to other areas across the state, it is important to state that unlike 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G, the 5G network will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity as well as low- latency capabilities to communications services in Nigeria for businesses and help to further open up Nigeria in the emerging global market.
“As a consumer focused public sector institution, the NCC shall continue to commit to the provision of a high level playing ground for operators to thrive, promote investment, delivery of innovative services to individual consumers, business and big business owners by ensuring enhanced consumer quality of experience.”
Danbata congratulated ECCIMA for organising the Fair ,saying that NCC has been a long standing partner of ECCIMA and that the commission has continually held it’s special day program at the Fair
“Every year, welook forward to the opportunity provided by ECCIMA Trade Fair to engage our esteemed telecoms consumers and business owners, who are based in the South- East geo-political zone and those who have come from different parts of the country as visitors and exhibitors to attend this very important event”.
He disclosed that ,” the number of Telecom consumers have continued to increase impressively over the last few years with active mobile subscriptions reaching 297.5 million as at January, 2022 and Internet subscribers exceeding 243.7 million , while broadband penetration stod at 41.61 percent”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the ECCIMA President, Jasper Nduagwuike, commended the NCC on its efforts at making life better through improvements in communication services in the country.
The President also thanked the NCC for it’s continued commitment and support to the Fair..
Highlights of the event were the fastest finger game that saw air time gifts across the four networks( MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat) . There was lucky dip game where many persons won smart phones.
