NCC, GSMA open talks on capacity building to grow networks

GLOBAL System of Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), the umbrella body for all Mobile operators, Equipment manufacturers, Vendors among others has opened talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on capacity building, and other sundry ways to attain an accelerated growth in the mobile sector.

The talks which took place at the Corporate Headquarters of NCC in Abuja were led by the Director, Africa Region for GSMA, Mortimer Hope.

They were received by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.

Mortimer, who said their visit was of dual purposes, told the EVC and his management that besides introducing his team to the NCC, they came to discuss with the regulator on the capacity building which GSMA members have great expertise.

“We are available always for capacity building that will boost mobile connectivity, improve data transmission, mobile money by breaking all the barriers inhibiting growth”. Mortimer said Nigeria is a very important market, hence the need for the report, Digital Inclusion and the role of Mobile in Nigeria, which he presented to the EVC.

The report was inspired by GSMA’s Digital Inclusion programme, which supports the connection of an additional two billion people to the mobile internet by 2020.

The programme focuses on working with mobile operators, development organisations and governments to address the barriers to mobile internet adoption through network infrastructure and policy, affordability and tax, digital literacy and local content.

The GSMA team however, said that knotty issues like multiple taxations, Quality of Service, Right of Way, among others are still a drawback to the expected growth of the sector.