FG approves new broadband policy
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday asked
the Ministry of Communication Technology to immediately commence implementation
of a new national broadband policy for the country.
The new national broadband policy is capable of
creating high speed communication network that connects end users at a data
transfer speed greater than 256kbit/S.
The policy has drawn out immediate strategic
action plan, including transparent cost based price caps, secured a 4-year row
waver agreement, as well as mandates the pre-installation of ducts when
constructing new roads and buildings.
Others include the production of a GIS-based
national fibre infrastructure map and introduction of low cost wireless and
satellite solution to hard to reach areas.
Speaking after receiving the report of the
Presidential Committee on a National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, Jonathan said he was confident that the successful
implementation of the National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap with a target of
80 percent nationwide Internet coverage by 2018, will help to positively revolutionise
communications in Nigeria.
The report was jointly presented to him by the
Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson, in the presence of the
co-chairmen of the committee, Ernest Ndukwe and Jim Ovia.
The committee said it is expected that in the
2013-2018 implementation period a five-fold increase in Internet and broadband
penetration will be achieved in the country.
“It is also intended that all state capitals and
urban cities will have metro-fibre infrastructure installed within the period”.
The new broadband policy envisaged Internet
experience where the user can at the moment access the most demanding content
in real time at a maximum speed of 1.5 MIT/S, with strong potentials for upward
movement.
Under the new policy, government is expected to
provide special protection for critical national ICT infrastructure, promote
transparency of pricing and reduction of build out costs through price caps
where necessary.
Businessday Newspaper
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