Nigeria Business Now

NCC plans clean energy policies for $75.6 billion telecoms sector

 

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) is on the verge of introducing policies that would encourage the sector to adopt clean and sustainable energy sources. Besides, the policy is also targeted at helping to reduce carbon emission footprint in the country.

The move is to check rising energy costs ravaging the economy from which the telecoms industry is not immune.

 

The Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the disclosure during a roundtable discussion with the academia, industry and other stakeholders, in Lagos, yesterday.

At the roundtable with the theme: “Refocusing Academic Research towards Alternative Clean Energy: Panacea to Paucity of Energy in the Telecoms Sector,” Danbatta said the globe is confronted by the urgent need to address the challenges posed by climate change and the increasing demand for energy.

With Nigeria’s telecoms sector now worth $75.6 billion, Danbatta said like many other industries, the telephony industry has a significant role to play in transitioning to a sustainable energy future, stressing that there is responsibility to ensure that the growth of the telecoms sector is achieved in a manner that is environmentally friendly and in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As such, he said the introduction of the policy would encourage ethical energy sourcing in the telecommunications sector. Danbatta noted that the policy would serve as a framework for telecoms service providers to adopt clean and sustainable energy sources, reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to a greener future.

Represented by Executive Commissioner, Technical Services NCC, Ubale Maska, Danbatta said: “We believe that this policy will not only benefit the environment but also drive innovation and create new business opportunities within the industry.

“However, achieving our objectives requires collaboration and partnership with the academia and other stakeholders,” he said. According to Danbatta, academia plays a crucial role in advancing research and innovation that can transform industries.

He noted that the academia’s expertise, knowledge and insights would guide in developing feasible alternative sources of clean energy that the telecommunications industry could leverage for a sustainable energy supply.

Danbatta said that the Commission’s main goals were aimed at refocusing future academic research towards feasible alternative sources of clean energy that could be harnessed by the telecom industry.

According to him, it is essential to identify and explore new technologies, such as solar, wind, and biomass, that can power our communication infrastructure efficiently and sustainably.

“We need the research of the academia to help us understand the potential of these alternative energy sources, address their challenges, and develop strategies for their implementation in the telecoms sector.

“Secondly, we seek to promote research in academia that leverages digital technology to improve the livelihoods of Nigerians, “the NCC boss said.
Justifying the need to diversify into alternative energy, the Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Pro. Abiodun Adebayo, said the event was apt. He stressed that the energy issue is first a national one before becoming global.

According to him, there is a need for telecoms operators to diversify, saying “current megawatt of electricity generated in the country today is a far cry from the capacity of the country and what is needed to serve the populace.

He called for more synergy between varsities and the NCC in the areas of research to develop innovations for the sector. On her part, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development Services), University of Lagos, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, said dirty energy is more expensive and has a huge negative impact on the environment. She pledged the readiness of Unilag to work with NCC, the telecoms sector in the areas of further research that would boost the industry.

MEANWHILE, in a statement, signed by NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the Commission said Mafab Communications, one of the companies granted the Fifth Generation (5G) licences, has roll-out service.

The telecoms regulator claimed that upon fulfilling the condition of payment for the fee of $273.6 million in February 2022, the company formally received the licence on February 22, 2022.

“Consequent upon the issuance of the 5G licence, and in line with the rollout conditions, MAFAB publicly launched its services in Abuja on January 24, 2023, and in Lagos on January 26, 2023. At launch, the services were targeted at six cities – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

“The Commission has continued to monitor the progress of rollout by MAFAB and has been regularly briefed about the status of infrastructure deployment for service offerings as conditioned in its operating licence,” he stated.