45m Nigerians now on high speed internet - NCC reveals, releases code to stop unwanted sms

- The NCC has revealed that about 45 million people in Nigeria are engaged in high speed internet activities

- Professor Umar Banbatta, the executive vice chairman of the commission, explained that this means Nigeria is at 22% broadband connectivity

- Banbatta said that one of the commission's targets is to achieve a 30% broadband by the end of 2018

Professor Umar Banbatta, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerians Communications Commission (NCC), has said that 45 million Nigerians are now on high speed internet access throughout the nation.

Banbatta disclosed this at the Kano Heroes’ Award ceremony at the weekend, where he was honoured with the science and technology development award, Vanguard reports.

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With eight months left to achieve the 30% broadband target set by the National Broadband Plan in 2012, he noted that the commission has been busy implementing the 8 Point Agenda of his administration among which is achieving the 30% broadband target by the end of 2018.

Banbatta revealed that Nigeria is now on 22% broadband connectivity, which implies that 45 million Nigerians are on a high speed internet access at the moment.

‘‘We are busy implementing each item of the 8 Point Agenda. For facilitating broadband connectivity, we are at 22%, which means 45m Nigerians have access to high speed internet. We have the target of 30% reach at the end of this year, according to the National Broadband Plan.

‘‘On protecting and empowering the consumer, we dedicated the year 2017 to the consumer and through that campaign, we have sensitised consumers all over the country, how they can protect themselves from unsolicited text messages by sending HELP to the code 2442.

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‘‘We have equally through this campaign of protecting and empowering the consumer sensitised consumers about the toll free number 622, through which they can lay complaints about quality of service they are receiving. These are the processes we have recorded success in two of the 8 items of our agenda. But we have made good progress in every item of the 8 Point Agenda.’’

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that NCC had said that internet users increased marginally to 98.3million in 2017.

The NCC made this disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data for December 2017 on its website on Thursday, February 8, in Abuja.

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Source: Legit.ng