The Federal Authorities will likely be investing in constructing 7,000 telecom towers throughout rural areas within the nation to bridge connectivity hole.
The Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economic system, Dr. Bosun Tijani disclosed this on Thursday whereas briefing Statehouse Correspondents in Abuja.
The Minister defined that the approval for the development of seven,000 new towers was granted by the Federal Government Council (FEC) as a part of a broader technique to bridge the digital divide.
He mentioned the funding will complement the continuing deployment of 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables throughout the nation.
Digital inclusion
Based on Tijani, the federal government is dedicated to making sure that each one Nigerians, particularly these in underserved areas, have significant entry to high quality telecommunication providers.
The Minister added that the choice to spend money on rural infrastructure aligns with the administration’s broader purpose of enhancing digital inclusion and financial alternatives for all residents.
“The precedence for this authorities is significant entry. We don’t need our folks to only have entry to telecommunication providers; we would like it to be of top quality.
“That’s the reason the NCC has been working totally to make sure that we shift the main target not simply to high quality of service, however to high quality of expertise,” he mentioned.
Tariff improve
Talking on the lately permitted tariff improve for telecom operators, Tijani mentioned the approval grew to become expedient to make sure sustainable and significant entry to telecommunications providers for Nigerians.
- Tijani described the choice to approve the tariff improve as difficult however essential to steadiness the pursuits of residents, companies, and the economic system.
- He emphasised the federal government’s duty to guard the telecom sector, which employs practically half 1,000,000 Nigerians instantly and not directly.
“We’ve to make sure that when telecom corporations make investments, we will maintain them afloat. This can be a sector that employs near half 1,000,000 folks on this nation, together with the worth chain,” Tijani mentioned.
He defined that the federal government needed to fastidiously weigh the necessity to maintain telecom corporations sustainable whereas guaranteeing that Nigerians proceed to have entry to inexpensive and high-quality providers.
“It was fairly a tough choice, balancing the necessity to enable these companies to be sustainable and keep afloat, however on the similar time guaranteeing that each citizen can have entry to telecommunication providers,” the minister added.
KPMG examine guided tariff adjustment
Tijani revealed that the Federal Authorities commissioned a examine by KPMG, a world consulting agency, to find out the optimum tariff adjustment.
- He mentioned the findings of the examine led to the approval of the 50% tariff improve.
- Tijani famous that many Nigerians working with the telecom operators risked shedding their jobs if the tariff improve was not permitted, including that that will not be the perfect factor for the economic system.
- The minister careworn that the federal government’s precedence is to make sure “significant entry” to telecom providers.
What you must know
Following the approval of a 50% tariff improve for the telecom operators on January 20, 2025, the operators have began implementing the brand new tariff.
Prices of knowledge on MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile have gone up by at the least 10%, whereas the price of textual content message has been elevated by 50% from N4.00 to N6.00.
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