‘Nigeria Needs High Speed Broadband to Boost Economy’

• ‘Nigeria Needs High Speed Broadband to Boost Economy’

The Chief Executive Officer of Spectranet 4GLTE, Mr. Ajay Awasthi has commended the federal government’s effort at deepening broadband penetration for rapid economic development, as enshrined in its National Broadband Policy (2013-2018).

Awasthi said that what Nigeria needs in order to achieve faster economic growth, is high speed broadband connectivity, driven by the fourth generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE).

He spoke to technology journalists in Lagos at the weekend, citing China’s economy, which he said, worth over $752 billion for eCommerce and online shopping, driven by high speed broadband connectivity that is available to all its citizens at affordable rate.

Awasthi noted that Nigeria’s huge population could offer the country such opportunity, if only the federal government could make high speed broadband connectivity available to all Nigerians at affordable rate.

He however said Spectranet, which has its footprint in Nigeria would be willing to help the country achieve high speed broadband connectivity and also bridge the digital divide by connecting as many Nigerians as possible, to the Spectranet best-in-class high speed broadband internet access.

“Nigeria has a laudable National Broadband Policy, but not many Nigerians have access to broadband services due to several factors. Nigeria needs reliable, affordable high speed broadband connectivity that is secured that will enhance quality of service, good customer experience that will bring about innovations and creativity in boosting the nation’s economy,” Awasthi said.

Listing the four pronged strategy of Spectranet for 2018 to include: Superior customer service; Arms-length distribution; Best-in-class customer experience; and better engagement of employees, Awasthi said Spectranet already has over 200,000 customer base in Nigeria, with plans to double the number in the next one year, in order to give more Nigerians the opportunity to explore the eCommerce and online shopping business that are currently driving global economies.

On the issue of high cost in delivering broadband services in Nigeria, Awasthi said: “The cost of providing broadband services in Nigeria is high and the cost kept increasing and it is likely to further increase by another 10 per cent in the coming months. So the federal government and the NCC must rise to their responsibilities to address the issue of high cost of providing broadband services in the country.”

He said out of the over 100 licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country, only few are currently existing and providing broadband services, while others have been adversely affected by the high cost of providing broadband services.

Although he said reduction in the cost of broadband services is good as currently bring clamoured for by Nigerians, he however warned that operators should not be compelled to overstretch ourselves in order to reduce cost and then compromise on the quality of service.

The quality of service, which is high speed broadband connectivity must be maintained in order to achieve better customer satisfaction, he said, adding that the best way to address the issue of reduction in the cost of broadband services, is for the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, to revisit the issue of data floor price and set a fixed and acceptable rate for industry data floor price.