The Nigerian Communications Commission says its support awaits law-abiding investors like Meta, (formerly Facebook), which responds positively to Nigeria’s desire for investments that promote the agenda of government to achieve a robust digital economy.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida stated this when he received a delegation of Meta, led by the company’s Vice President for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey, Kojo Boakye, who paid him a visit at the NCC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Maida said the regulatory support to all investors, including operators in Nigeria, will be predicated on their playing by the rules and regulations guiding the sector.
According to him, the Commission places a lot of premiums on compliance with industry laws, regulations, and guidelines as such will also engender a level playing field for all licensees and other stakeholders in the industry for sustaining healthy competition and guaranteeing sustainable growth in the Nigerian telecoms sector.
Leader of the Meta delegation, Kojo Boakye informed the NCC boss that the purpose of the visit was to congratulate the EVC on his appointment by the President and to inform him of ongoing efforts to land 2Africa Cable in Nigeria.
Boakye said at 45,000 kilometres long, the 2Africa submarine cable will be one of the world’s largest subsea cable projects and will interconnect Europe (eastward via Egypt), Asia (via Saudi Arabia), and Africa.
He said the system will go live in 2023, delivering more than the total combined capacity of all subsea cables currently serving Africa, with a design capacity of up to 180 terabytes per second (Tbps).
Boakye stated that 2Africa will deliver much-needed Internet capacity and reliability across large parts of Africa, supplement the fast-growing capacity demand in the Middle East and underpin further growth of 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband access for billions of people, especially in Nigeria.
He solicited NCC’s support in sailing through all necessary legal and regulatory hurdles in landing the submarine cable to complement the existing backbone infrastructure in Nigeria.
He also said Meta, through a consortium, plans to land 2Africa cable simultaneously in Lagos and Akwa-Ibom States “in order to ensure those not yet connected are connected while those already connected are given the opportunity for enhanced and affordable access.”
