By The Nigerian Communications Commission is looking toward making spectrum available for auctioning to increase the telecom sector contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of the Nigerian economy. To make it happen, the commission is making available the 3.5GHz spectrum band in 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory for sale to the public.
The Nigeria’s rebased GDP released a few weeks ago by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics indicated that the telecommunications and information services sector was currently contributing 8.68 per cent to the Nigerian economy, equivalent to N6.97tn of the total GDP estimate of N80.22tn.
With this recent rebasing, the telecom sector has once again proved that it is a money spinner for the economy. “We believe that the present programmes NCC is embarking on will not only sustain the growth of the industry and its contribution to the rising GDP, but also drive new growth areas,” said Tony Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs at NCC.
Telecom has impacted positively on the ways businesses are being done, industry such as music, aviation, agriculture, oil and gas, real estate and education rely on telecom for effective service delivery.
NCC has said the spectrum for auctioning is expected to be licensed on a state by state basis in the states where the spectrum is available, which means that the winners of the spectrum will operate within the state where the licence is situated. The new licences will open the telecom sector to more players, thereby deepening competition in the industry.
