The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has listed the various challenges impeding sustainable development of the telecom sector in Nigeria.
Mr. OlusolaTeniola, the President of ATCON made the presentation in Lagos at a reception by ATCON in honour of Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The strategic reasons to specially welcome Danbattato the industry by ATCON were
focussed on the following:
- To offer Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian
Communications Commission the opportunity to share his plans for the
industry with the relevant stake holders.
- To give the industry the opportunity to meet with him and share some of the
challenges that are impacting negatively on the telecom industry in Nigeria.
- And finally to formally introduce Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice
Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission to captains of the industry.
Our association, which is the umbrella body for all Telecommunication companies
operating in Nigeria, is glad to welcome you and wish you a very successful tenure.
We pledge our commitment to work with you and the commission to sustain the
growth and development of the Telecommunication industry in Nigeria.
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is interested
in the continuous development of the sector but there are some issues that have
constituted a threat to investment friendly and enabling environment for our members, such as:
- National Broadband Plan – implementation
- Approval of draft National ICT Policy
- Foreign Exchange impact viz-a-vie network roll-out
- Proposed 9% Communication Service Tax bill
- Local content within ICT sector
- Dumping of counterfeit phone –Anti-Counterfeiting Measures
The sixth point is a new growing problem for the industry:
We plead with Government to put in place anti-counterfeiting measures such
as the facilitation of integrated web portal based IMEI-IMSI collection to stem
the menace of sub-standard or unrecognised mobile phones circulating in
Nigeria with the obvious consequences of poor quality of service, loss of
revenue to the government, loss of business by OEMS and loss of jobs as well in
Nigeria mobile market, for instance we have more than twenty mobile phone
brands that do not have NCC type approval certificate to operate in Nigeria.
This unregistered/unapproved brands have over one hundred and fifty mobile
phone models circulating in Nigeria.
In addition, we have note that 10% of fake mobile phones products of some of
the popular mobile phone brands are circulating in Nigeria.
Finally, it is worthy to also share with you tonight that ATCON will be going through a
rebranding effort in order to showcase our commitment as a strong and united
association.
We have revamped our website with a contemporary look and also tonight we will be launching our ATCON news (a dedicated portal that will invariablyimprove public perception of the association as well as increase media visibility for
members).
