By Hillary Asemota
Because of the transformation impetus of broadband in leapfrogging the economy of nations coupled with its elixir effect in the overarching digital economy drive, the British High Commission in Nigeria is seeking a stake to play active role through Right of Way (RoW) participation to deepen the country’s broadband penetration.
Nigeria’s broadband is the rave of investors as market analysts put the value at conservatively N500 billion few years back just as Nigeria is reputed to be the largest and most dynamic telecommunications gold mine with foreign investors standing by for exploration.
In an excitement mood, the British Deputy High Commissioner in the country, Mr. Ben Llewellyn Jones, during a scheduled whistle to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami, on Monday revealed his country’s interest in deepening the nation’s broadband space through involvement in its RoW agreement formalization.
The Diplomat, hinted: “I am here today to discuss how we can encourage more progress in the Right of Way (RoW) agreement in order to enhance Broadband penetration and also to explore more areas of partnership with the digital access programmes”.
Jones’ visit signposts exploratory avenues of expanding existing collaborations and forging new partnerships with the ministry, while at the same time expressing commendation on the Minister’s digital economy drive, especially in the areas of broadband penetration and capacity building.
In a remark, Pantami, pledged the support and intervention of his office towards the resolution of any challenges inimical to broadband penetration in the country.
Jones who was in the Minister’s office to explore avenues of expanding existing collaborations and forging new partnerships with the ministry, commended the Minister for his digital economy drive, especially in the areas of Broadband penetration and capacity building.
Pantami who expressed delight over the gesture, recalled that the agreements reached with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to peg the RoW charge at a maximum of 145 Naira per linear meter was already in full effect in almost all states of the federation and encouraged the Commission to expand the Digital Access Programme to include more states in the country and therefore, extend the programme to more beneficiaries.
Recall also that Pantami and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) management team had in several unrelentless move met with the Nigeria Governors Forum in January 2020 to successfully pushed for a reduction in Right of Way charges.