The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged stakeholders in the telecommunications sector to adopt infrastructure sharing to cut costs and enhance service provision.
Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, made this call at the 2nd edition of the West African Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition held in Lagos. Maida highlighted the importance of partnerships among government, industry, and academia to foster innovation and progress.
Acknowledging the capital-intensive nature of developing telecom infrastructure, Maida recommended exploring public-private partnerships, infrastructure funds, and innovative financing models like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Addressing the challenges faced by the industry, Maida stressed the importance of leveraging emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize network operations and enhance customer service through automation and advanced analytics.
He also emphasized the significance of smart infrastructure development to support various smart city applications, from traffic management to public safety solutions.
Discussing emerging technology trends, Maida mentioned Nigeria’s active participation in global advancements, including the rollout of 5G. He highlighted the potential of 5G in enabling faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity, facilitating innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and advanced augmented reality.
Looking ahead to 6G, Maida anticipated further enhancements in network capabilities and the integration of AI for improved network management and service delivery. He underscored the transformative potential of the 6G revolution across industries, leading to increased efficiencies and improved quality of life.
