Umbrella body of licensed providers of
telecommunication services in the country, the
Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON),
has applauded the Lagos State government led by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola
and members of the State Executive Council for the signing ceremony on the
Right of Way and Infrastructure Development agreement, DigitalSENSE BusinessNews reports.
ALTON chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo gave this thumbs-up
at the signing ceremony at the ABAT Centre, Ministry of Science and Technology,
Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend, saying that Gov. Fashola’s leadership
quality once again manifested in the progress made in the discussions since his
group visited His Excellency on Thursday 4th April 2013, which culminated in an
agreement and “the signing ceremony of today.”
DigitalSENSE BusinessNews also quoted Adebayo as
saying that they were indeed grateful for the leadership provided by Gov.
Fashola and the example this has made.
“Lagos State is indeed a worthy example for other states
in improving the lives of our people in the digital age,” he declared,
stressing that the role of the Honorable Minister of Information and
Communications, Mrs. Omobola Johnson played in securing this agreement with
Lagos State, remain immeasurable.
Also, ALTON commended the leadership of the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC), saying, “We thank the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)
of NCC, Eugene Juwah for his interest in providing a better operating
environment for the operators.”
Adebayo, accompanied by Kola Ladipo, Oyeronke Oyetunde
and Administrative Secretary of ALTON, Gbolahan Awonuga to name a few,
expressed thanks to the Honorable Commissioners for Science and Technology Mr.
Biyi Mabadeje and that of Works, Mr. Hamzat Kadiri, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the
General Manager of Lagos State Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), the
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science and Tech, Mrs. Onikepo Animashuan and
all other members of the state executive council, and the Sub-Committee that
worked with ALTON’s legal team in
driving the initiative and ensuring timely conclusion on all issues in
the agreement.
He said the greatest challenge ALTON members face, as
an industry in network roll out lies in the multiplicity of approval process
for Site-build and Right –of way to deploy fibre optic infrastructure as back
bone and last mile for the national network.
Adebayo pointed out that in most States of the
Federation, ROW is the highest cost element in deploying fibre optic network,
and the process of obtaining same, other than the cost, could take as much as four
to 12 months.
“The cost of securing approval for site-build also
constitutes a major element of total cost of a base station. The time it takes
can be between six months to eighteen months. As an industry, and a technology
industry, it is impossible to develop a modem network with good quality of
service in this type of approval and cost regime,” he said.
By signing this agreement and the letters of the
agreement, Lagos State Government has demonstrated that the socio-economic
benefits of modern telecom network for its citizens and residents far out-weigh
the internal generated revenue considerations as it was in the old regime and
as it is with most other states of the federation.
ALTON also assured the government and people of Lagos
State that Lagos will have the best network both in terms and quality and
standard and cost within the next 6 – 12 months. Lagos will become a ‘Smart
City’.
“With this agreement, operators will commence
aggressive network expansion and modernization in Lagos state and we assure you
that the economy of Lagos and accruable socio-economic benefits from a Smart
City will triple within the next few years. Lagos will have the best-in-class
network,” he said.
Further, he assured the Government and people of Lagos
State that in the spirit of this agreement and as responsible corporate
citizens, operators will continue to play according to the rules. We will
expand our networks at the highest world class quality standards and we assure
you of our cooperation in every respect, in order to achieve an overall success
of a better network in the ‘Smart City’ of Lagos.
ALTON noted that the pursuit of respective objectives
often create conflict with State Government functionaries, most notably
regarding the regulation and permits for Rights-of –way; Site build approvals
and compliance management.
“We take this opportunity to call on other State
Governors to take a queue, from the example of Lagos State by removing all
barriers to network roll out and network expansion, and to eliminate all issues
around high approval charges and multiple taxation and regulation by Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs),” he said.
Remmy Nweke
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: L-r Nike Animashaun, Permanent Secretary, Min. of SciTech, Commissioner SciTech Mr. Mabedeje, ALTON chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, Secretary, Kola Ladipo at the signing of agreement with LSG and ALTON recently.
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