Broadband challenges top NITRA Forum, as NCC, ALTON Lineup - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) Quarterly Forum has concluded plans to host the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Association Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to its Quarterly Forum with focus on broadband challenges, reports ITREALMS.

The forum, ITREALMS gathered, has been slated for Friday, December 14, 2018, at the CitiHeight Hotel, Opebi Link, Ikeja, Lagos.

NITRA, under the supervision of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, is an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in Nigeria.

In collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), NITRA promises to address the challenges of broadband, especially with last mile connectivity, at this fourth quarter forum.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta is the keynote speaker at the event expected to draw the largest gathering of ICT industry players under one roof.

Themed: “Achieving Last Mile Connectivity Through Affordable Broadband,” the forum will not only highlight the opportunities and challenges of deploying affordable broadband in Nigeria but will look at the strategies being adopted by the NCC to achieve this.

Experts argue that in order to address Nigeria’s last mile connectivity, it’s important that the Government creates incentives that would encourage telcos to invest in connectivity in rural areas and other less profitable regions.

Achieving last mile connectivity in Nigeria, therefore, requires a concerted effort among Government, Civil Society Organizations, Policy makers, mobile operators, service providers, academia etc. It also requires a combination of solutions ranging from policies to technologies, transparency to regulations etc.

Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had in 2016, rolled out an 8-point agenda aimed at broadband access and penetration. Through the agenda, the NCC hopes to promote deployment of universally available, fast and reliable network infrastructure that will stimulate seamless broadband penetration to drive technology innovation and overall productivity of Nigeria’s economy.

In the last two years, NITRA has through the Quarterly forum engaged ICT stakeholders to brainstorm on various topical issues affecting the ICT industry in Nigeria.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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