Telcos: What Nigeria needs for adequate broadband, Improved QoS – NCC
Ladesope Ladelokun
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has identified stable power supply and provision of not less than 158000 metres of optic fibre as crucial to boosting the Quality of Service (QoS ) by telcos and adequate broadband respectively across Nigeria.
The Manager, Technical Department, NCC, Mr Musa Diabu, made this known during a sensitisation programme on the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure the safety of telecoms infrastructure across Nigeria instead of leaving them to security personnel alone.
Diabu said the current 38,000 metres of optic fibre was 120000 metres shy of the 158000 metres of optic fibre Nigeria needs for adequate broadband.
He, however, blamed electricity distribution companies for the poor telecom services suffered by customers.
Diabu says the importance of adequate power supply cannot be overemphasised as it is crucial to the provision of better services by service providers.
Speaking on the challenges and achievements in the telecom sector, Mrs Amina Shehu, Director, Zonal operations, says though the Commission aims to sustain the growth recorded in the telecoms sector as the industry continues to evolve, there are still nagging challenges that continue to hamper development in the sector.
Shehu, who was represented by the Principal Manager, Zonal Operations, NCC, Mr Ekisola Oladisun, said an increase in deployment of robust critical telecom infrastructure was imperative to improving broadband penetration, adding that unabated theft of telecoms facilities and vandalism of telecoms infrastructure were major challenges in the telecoms industry.
Shehu further stressed that collaborative efforts were needed to protect telecoms infrastructure in the country.
She charged stakeholders like traditional rulers and individuals to collectively protect telecoms infrastructure in their communities.
Her words: ” If the Quality of Service(QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) enjoyed by the consumers are to be improved upon, the consumers need to play a role by joining hands in protecting telecoms infrastructure such as Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and fibre optic cables located in their vicinities.”
She added: “It is important to note that the spate of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure across the country has resulted in cases of poor quality of service which telecoms consumers complain about.”
