Industry body calls for telecom reform

THE Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has canvassed for radical reforms in the Nigerian telecommunications sector to align it with new global trends.

ATCON Executive Secretary Ajibola Olude, said the industry should be restructured to reflect current technological advancements across the globe.

According to Olude, the industry needs more investment and development of skills to reposition the sector for improved performance.

He stated that it is fundamental that the industry is ultimately restructured to reflect the changes that are already taking root and imposed by technological advancement.

The ATCON Scribe noted that the benefits of these changes will not be realized by simply willing them to happen, but rather by matching those aspirations with credible and tangible investments.

“It is also desirable that we develop knowledge and skills in emerging technologies as there is a reservoir of knowledge in this realm that needs to be tapped into.

“A failure to do so will perpetuate our paying over the odds, and for poorer and outmoded services,” he said.

He assured that the association would mobilize awareness and motivate its members, investors, and businessmen, to invest in appropriate infrastructure construction for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He called on the government to provide adequate resources that will aid the development of the sector.

“It is the primary duty of the government to provide access to e-resources for all of us and it can not for reasons of liberalization shirk its responsibilities.

“This extends to providing necessary support to industry players.

“One good case is the extension of broadband infrastructure across the country as well as providing incentives and financial support to fledging and startup companies who show promise to disperse major broadband infrastructure and forge ubiquity of access,’ said Olude.

He added: “This is essentially the panacea to mobilising all Nigerians for production. We shall pursue this and collaborate with others to do so.”

Olude noted that in the absence of genuine liberalisation of the power sector, telecoms operators may continue to throw good money after bad on the problem without commensurate results.

And that ATCON advocates for a truly liberalised electricity delivery system – one which will allow and encourage private investment into generating, transmitting and distributing electricity under independent and proper regulation.

A system that is not underpinned by the tenets of choice, competition and freedom to do business under independent and fair regulation, is anything but liberalisation.

“The net industry and social benefits of an efficient frequency management system is yet to be attained.

” Its mismanagement poses real threat to investment and expansion initiatives. Developing skills in this special area represents an antidote to predictable catastrophe in planning, allocation and management such that the industry reduces pollution and increases re-use.

“Our association will align itself with all efforts which seek to improve the industry,” he said