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‘Broadband critical to Nigeria’s economic growth’

By ADEYEMI ADEPETUN
10 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
IMPROVED broadband penetration has the potential of creating wealth and unlocking huge opportunities for millions of Nigerians, while fast-tracking the nation’s economic development.            Making this charge at a telecom conference organized by global giants, Nokia Networks in Lagos, Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, noted that enhanced broadband access…

IMPROVED broadband penetration has the potential of creating wealth and unlocking huge opportunities for millions of Nigerians, while fast-tracking the nation’s economic development.       

    Making this charge at a telecom conference organized by global giants, Nokia Networks in Lagos, Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, noted that enhanced broadband access would equip majority of Nigerians with the freedom to succeed in today’s digital society.

   “With increased deployment of broadband and more equitable access for the majority, huge opportunities will be created for self-development in the country. Just consider the effect this will have on the cost of doing business and the unlimited resources it will place at our disposal. Presently, a lot of people do not see these opportunities due to the current infrastructural challenges being faced in the sector and the slow pace of ICT uptake in Nigeria,” he noted.

  Speaking further, Ekeh who was Chairman of the conference revealed that Nigeria’s population and cultural realities make the country a potentially lucrative market for broadband deployment, while calling for a synergy of the government and the private sector in making this a reality.

  “We must up the tempo because the market is a very huge one. The digital divide must be bridged and access must become a basic human right for everyone in this country. Government has a critical role to play in this regard. With liberalized band-width allocation, investor-friendly policies and enabling environment for private sector involvement, the multiplier effect of broadband deployment is unquantifiable and will rapidly transform Nigeria into a digital economy.”

   Citing infrastructural deficiencies, security issues, multiple taxation and poor network quality as some of the factors hampering mobile broadband operators in Nigeria, Ekeh whose Zinox Technologies has deployed some of the biggest ICT projects in the country, encouraged the participants to see the current challenges as temporary obstacles which will be surmounted with time, noting that Nigeria is a prime investment destination on the continent.

   The conference, with the theme Connect Nigeria: Exploring ICT potential for growth, featured a panel discussion involving representatives of major players in the industry including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Etisalat Nigeria, Matt Wilshire; Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria,  Segun Ogunsanya; MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, Wale Goodluck and Nokia’s Head of Central, East and West African sub-region, David Gaul.

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