Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

NCC to Balance Competition, Disruptive Technologies, for Sustainable

Telecoms Growth

The Nigerian Communications making necessary regulatory efforts to or aircraft registered in Nigeria. “This is for
Commission (NCC) said it was keen on drive the coverage of rural, unserved and the purpose of ensuring a well-developed
balancing healthy competition with entry underserved areas of the country. He and organized satellite communications
of disruptive technologies to ensure said that it would be done through the market with appropriate legal framework
sustainable telecoms industry growth accomplishments of the lofty targets that meets international best practices.
and development in Nigeria. The NCC’s contained in the Nigerian National “It encourages innovation, promotes
Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025. He competition and guarantees public safety
Danbatta, stated this in a statement signed noted that the plan’s target of 70 per cent in the rendering of commercial satellite
by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the Commission’s broadband penetration target, covering 90 services.” The SpaceX’s Starlink Market
Director, Public Affairs, and made available per cent of the population by 2025, was Access Director for Africa, Mr. Ryan
to newsmen on Friday in Abuja. The also in line with government expectations Goodnight, and the company’s consultant,
statement said that Danbatta expressed in the National Digital Economy Policy and Mr. Levin Born, provided an overview of
the desire when a delegation from SpaceX, Strategy (NDEPS), 2010-2030. According its plans, expectations, licensing requests
an American aerospace manufacturer and to him, Section 70 (2) of the Nigerian and deployment phases during the
space transportations services company, Communications Act (NCA), 2003, meeting. They disclosed that SpaceX was
paid him a courtesy visit in his office empowers the Commission to regulate in the process of launching a low-earth
in Abuja. The commission’s Executive the provision and use of all satellite orbiting (LOE) constellation of satellites
Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr. communications services and networks. to provide low latency, high bandwidths
Ubale Maska, represented Danbatta. The According to him, the regulation is in Internet to all corners of the globe and.
EVC said that the commission would work whole or in part within Nigeria or on a ship thenationonlineng.net
on necessary modalities to ensure that it
balanced the need for healthy competition
as regards new technologies to protect
all industry stakeholders. He said, “as
the regulator of a highly dynamic sector
in Nigeria, the commission is conscious
of the need to ensure that our regulatory
actions are anchored on national interest.
“We have listened to your presentation
and we will review it vis-à-vis our
regulatory direction of ensuring effective
and a sustainable telecoms ecosystem
where a licensee’s operational model
does not dampen healthy competition
among other licensees.” He further stated
that the commission was interested in

South Africa inks Telecom Regulation Agreement with the US

The Independent Communications global counterparts have in ICASA. This for the company. ICASA noted that the
Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the collaboration places the Authority on two regulators have agreed to implement
Federal Communications Commission solid ground to achieve international a program of information exchange
(FCC) of the US signed a virtual best practices, cutting-edge regulatory and technical cooperation in the field of
memorandum of understanding agreement approaches and further validates South telecommunications and related services
that covers the exchange of ideas in the Africa’s standing in the global ICT arena.” and facilities, in accordance with their
area of telecommunications regulation The deal is against a backdrop of American respective national and international laws,
and policy. According to ICASA President attempts to unite the telecom markets regulations and obligations, and within the
Keabetswe Modimoeng, the non-binding of Europe, Africa and even Asia against framework of their annual budgets and
agreement “is a momentous collaboration Chinese tech giant Huawei. South Africa terms.
that illustrates the confidence that our has always been unwavering in its support

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