The Nigerian Communications Fee has commenced a evaluate of the Nationwide Telecommunications Coverage 2000 (NTP), almost three a long time after its approval, citing fast technological adjustments and evolving market realities which have outpaced the prevailing framework.
The Fee introduced the graduation of the evaluate course of on Monday because it launched a session paper searching for stakeholders’ inputs into the proposed adjustments to the coverage.
The NCC stated the evaluate is aimed toward repositioning Nigeria’s telecommunications coverage to mirror present dynamics in digital companies, web governance, satellite tv for pc communications, broadband growth and common entry, whereas sustaining the sector’s function as a key driver of {economic} progress.
In accordance with the Fee, the Nationwide Telecommunications Coverage 2000 was itself a response to an earlier framework that had develop into out of date.
It added that the NTP changed the 1998 coverage and launched full market liberalisation, stakeholder session and a unified regulatory framework beneath the NCC.
Authorised beneath a nascent democratic authorities, the coverage marked a decisive shift from state management to liberalisation, competitors and market-driven progress.
Nonetheless, the Fee famous that simply because the 1998 coverage turned outdated by fast world technological adjustments, the 2000 coverage now requires a complete overhaul to deal with in the present day’s realities, together with platform-driven digital companies, broadband-dependent purposes and rising non terrestrial networks.
The formulation of the Nationwide Telecommunications Coverage led to the licensing of GSM operators in 2001 and 2002, a transfer that remodeled the market nearly in a single day.
The NCC acknowledged that the NTP performed a central function in enabling e-commerce, digital {financial} companies and the broader digital financial system, marking Nigeria’s transition from a slow-moving, state-controlled telecom sector to a aggressive and innovation-driven market.
As a part of the evaluate, the Fee is proposing focused updates to a number of chapters of the coverage.
Chapter Seven on the Web is ready for revision to accommodate on-line security, deepen web change protocols and supply clearer coverage course on content material moderation, on-line platforms and digital companies working inside Nigeria.
Chapter Eight on Satellite tv for pc Communications can also be slated for a complete evaluate to determine a contemporary coverage framework for satellite tv for pc harmonisation, higher and decrease stream service provisioning and coexistence between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
The NCC stated this would come with clearer spectrum mapping to enhance service high quality and value efficient common connectivity.
As well as, Chapter Ten on Financing and Funding might be reviewed to deal with financial and monetary help wanted to stimulate sector progress, particularly within the context of ongoing tax and monetary reforms.
The NCC can also be searching for stakeholder enter on coverage measures to sort out persistent challenges resembling a number of taxation and overlapping laws.
Past revisions to present chapters, the Fee is proposing a brand new chapter targeted on broadband targets, safety of essential nationwide communications infrastructure, harmonisation of proper of means costs throughout all tiers of presidency and the introduction of a one cease allowing course of for telecom infrastructure deployment.
Regardless of the expansion recorded within the sector through the years, the excessive value of right-of-way has remained a significant impediment to the growth of telecom infrastructure.
The plan to incorporate a brand new chapter on Proper of Manner costs within the new coverage being proposed could assist the business to deal with this problem.
