By Cyril Ilayah
The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is set to launch a book that will evaluate the Nigeria’s telecommunications industry between 2015 – 2019.
“The National Executive Council of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has concluded plans to embark on an evaluation exercise of the Nigerian telecom industry. The book is expected to cover between 2015 to 2019,” the umbrella body of all telecom operators announced in a press release.
The book, which will be launched next year during the GSMA World Congress 2020, in Barcelona, Spain and afterwards in Nigeria, is meant to validate and give credit to how vital the telecom and ICT sector is to the Nigerian economy.
According to the press release issued by Mr. Ajibola Olude, ATCON’s Executive Secretary, some of the principal reasons that inform the evaluation of the Nigerian telecoms industry are, to showcase policy improvements and innovations during the period under review and its attendant results; to understudy the sector viz-a-viz challenges limiting the growth and development of the sector in the period under review.
Others are to making a concerted effort towards proffering sustainable solutions to all identified challenges; to work towards attaining the newly set broadband target and to encourage further local and foreign investment into the sector by demonstrating untapped opportunities in the sector.
Meanwhile, the proposed strategic industry evaluation by ATCON is expected to center on areas such as contribution of regulators to broadband penetration, through enabling policies and the wholistic review of the regulatory environment and operators’ contribution through sponsored infrastructure.
It will also center on the structure of the Investment in the sector and exploration of alternative funding and socio-economic impact of the sector, including but not limited to the following areas; job creation, agriculture, youth development, education, security, banking and financial inclusion.
ATCON also stated that it is doing the evaluation pursuant to its mandate to continuously advocate for the development of the Nigerian telecom industry through research and innovation and pro-active engagement of both the regulators and operators in the industry.