Nigeria
is located in the region regarded to have the highest level of international
telephone traffic per subscriber. This is estimated at over 200 minutes per
year, but the overall level of traffic per inhabitant is less than 1 minute.
This suggests that there is a pent-up demand that is not being met by the
existing supply of telecommunications services. The business and investment
opportunities in the sector are as follows:
Huge,
Untapped Market
With a
population of 140 million people with
improving affordability, the market potential for telecommunications
subscriptions and usage over the next few years is indeed very great.
Profitability
of the Nigerian Telecoms Market
The
Nigerian telecommunications market, as is, is one of the most profitable in
Africa, and perhaps, the World. For instance, one of the Nigerian GSM companies
declared full profitability less than 18 months after service launch on
investments of over US$700m.
Provision
of Services
The need
to meet up with the ITU standard led to the deregulation of the industry by the
Telecommunications law of 1992, which ushered in a new era. Private sector
participation and operation in one or more of the deregulated
telecommunications undertakings is now allowed. These are:
·
Sales and installation of Terminal
Equipment;
·
Provision and operation of Public
Pay-phones;
·
Provision and operation of Private Network
Links employing cables, radio communications, or satellite, within Nigeria;
·
Provision and operation of Public Mobile
Communications
(Cellular Mobile telephony, Paging,
and Trunked Radio);
·
Provision and operation of Community
Telecommunication (Rural and Urban);
·
Provision
and operation of Value Added Network/Data Services (Internet, Voice Mail, Electronic Mail services);
·
Repair and maintenance of
telecommunications facilities, and
·
Cabling (e.g. Telephone-external and
internal wiring for residence, office etc.).
Local
Manufacture of Equipment
The
local manufacture of switching and transmission equipment is necessary to meet
the desired expansion. Presently, the country can only boast of local
manufacture of low pair capacity cables. Thus, there is the need for the
establishment of a plant to manufacture high pair cables as well as fiber optic
cables and other telecommunications accessories.
Other
investment opportunities in the industry include investing in any sub-sector of
the industry such as manufacture, and supply of equipment and accessories as
well as service provision. The industry’s size and growth prospects are very
high, thus making it a self-sustaining sector.
With the
deregulation of the industry, private sector participation and operation is
fully allowed in the telecommunications undertakings.
However,
only corporate bodies registered in Nigeria and/or Nigerian citizens can
participate in telecommunications service delivery. Foreign investment is
encouraged through Joint Ventures between the foreign investors and their
Nigerian affiliates.
In
addition to this, NCC license should be obtained. The license may cover:
· The
right to set-up and operate networks, and
·
The right to set-up operate and provide
services for third parties on commercial basis.
Other
Fixed National Operators
i).
National Operators
Fixed
Service National Operators shall be licensed to establish and operate
telecommunications service facilities in all the six (6) geographical zones.
The
functions include the following:
·
To carry out the provision of quality
service to its subscribers and compliance with tariff regulations, and
·
To carry out the responsibility of a
National Carrier as a principal agent, trustee, contractor or otherwise and,
either alone or in conjunction with others.
·
To do all such things considered incidental
or conducive to the performance of that responsibility.
·
This category of operators includes the
Private Network Links (PNL) licenses and is limited to ownership and operation
of facilities for domestic services only.
ii).
Zonal Operators
A fixed zonal operator shall be licensed to establish and operate telecommunications services in one (1) of the
Six (6) geographical zones.
·
Its functions include the following, among
others:
·
Provision of quality services to its
subscribers and to comply with tariff regulations;
·
To carry out the responsibility of a
National Zonal Operators as principal agent, trustee, contractor or otherwise
and, either alone or in conjunction with others. To do all such things
considered incidental or conducive to the performance of that responsibility.
iii). Mobile Cellular Operators
In
attaining the objectives of liberalization, globalization, economy of scale,
effective national coverage as well as efficient delivery and pricing, there
shall not be more than four (4) National Cellular operators for the initial
five (5) years.
The
functions include the following, among others:
·
To plan, develop, operate and
administer the National Network;
·
To provide service to all parts of the
Federation and beyond;
·
Provision of quality services to its
subscribers and compliance with tariff regulations;
·
To carry out the responsibility of a
National Cellular Operator as principal agent, trustee, contractor or otherwise
and either alone or in conjunction with others, to do all such things
considered incidental or conducive to the performance of that responsibility;
·
Establishment and operation of
international telecommunications gateway for cellular traffic only, if found
necessary.
It is
worthy to note that another mobile cellular operator, Mubadala Development
Company, a United Arab Emirate base firm was recently licensed to provide
nationwide service. This is due to the fact that the initial five (5) years
freeze which commenced in 2001 has expired. There is therefore room for
additional mobile cellular operators
NOTE: The
modalities for appointing the carriers shall be competitive and transparent.
Technology
Developments and Local Manufacture
Government ensures that the Telecommunications development follows the worldwide standard
– the establishment of digital or any other technology while gradually phasing
out the existing analogue system. Efforts shall be made to promote indigenous
design and production capability and manufacture of a substantial amount of the
components and sub-systems used in the telecommunications services.
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