Danbatta: Why FG Can’t Achieve 30% National Broadband Target by 2018

• Fines imposed on telecom operators will not be passed to subscribers

By Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said government may not be able to attain the 30 percent broadband target before 2018 because of inadequate infrastructure layout in the sector.

However, with only two infrastructure companies out of seven already licensed for deployment in Lagos and North-central zones, the EVC averred that NCC is committed to driving the process the plan to completion, though it has just 24 months to go.

The NCC boss said: “We have said this must be driven by massive investment in infrastructure, otherwise this will not be attainable.”

“We are at the stage of developing the regulatory framework and we are doing that and once this exercise is completed we are envisaging that the licensing of the remaining zones with the provision of broadband infrastructure will take place within the next three or 4 months.”