S.M.Es SHOULD LEVERAGE ON TECHNOLOGY CREATED TO DIGITIZE EXPORTATION——–NCC

The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) Prof Umar Danbatta, has reiterated that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should leverage on the potentials of technology to digitize exportation businesses.

He stated this today at the NCC day of the ongoing 17th international trade fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) with the theme “creating an export ready market through SMEs digitization”

Represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr Efosa Idehen, he said

that in the present environment, the competitiveness of Nigeria’s SMEs depends on the ability to leverage new technologies by acquiring the necessary digital skills to do business on an international scale.

He maintained that digitization of SME sector of the economy is strongly connected to telecommunications, 

giving the power the telecom sector has to positively disrupt traditional business models. 

According to him, “the growing demand for connectivity is pressuring telecom companies to upgrade their telecommunications infrastructure. As a result, network transformation has become far more imperative for innovative businesses, allowing them to address changing customer expectations.”

He said that the commission is working assiduously with various stakeholders to see how more businesses would embrace digital platforms for delivering their services to the consumers.

He pledged that NCC would provide a level-playing ground for operators to thrive, promote investment and delivery of innovative services to individual consumers, SMEs and big business owners by ensuring enhanced consumer quality of experience

Prof Danbatta declared that the NCC is driving initiatives for full launch of the 5G network in Nigeria, noting that spectrum licenses for the companies that would roll out the service had been issued and the deployment will start from the state capital and gradually extend to other states. 

He said that the 5G network will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility, and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities to communications services in Nigeria.

He also said that the steady growth in the telecoms sector over the years with its persuasive positive impact on all other sectors of the economy in terms of increased automation of processes and digital transformation in service delivery has been remarkable.

He revealed that the total number of active mobile subscribers reached 210 million in August 2022 from 208.6 million in July, with teledensity of 109.99 per cent and

Internet subscribers exceeded 152.2 million, with broadband penetration standing at 44.65 per cent.

Speaking on efficiency, the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen 

represented by the Head, Consumer Protection and Advocacy, Mr Clement Omeife said that the commission carries out its functions to ensure service availability, accessibility, affordability and sustainability for all categories of consumers.

He pointed out that the commission is working to resolve issues of incessant complaints on data depletion, among others.

 

“Currently, the commission is working on resolving the issue of incessant complaints on Data Depletion, as well as fair usage policy on unlimited data plan. Others are compensation policies of service providers and the hidden terms and conditions that apply to services in the industry,” he said.