BEVERLY HILLS, January 23, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that a total of 53,460 third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) base transceiver stations (BTS) have been deployed in Nigeria in the last five years.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, who stated this at a briefing session for the new Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Engr. Festus Yusuf Daudu, said the effective regulatory regime put in place by his leadership has created the desired impetus for the increased deployment of infrastructure by various telecoms operators.
This, he said, has in turn helped to improve the broadband penetration and other related service delivery in the telecoms industry.
“The BTS, fibre optic cables and other related infrastructure are central to the provision of improved service experience for Nigerians by their respective telecoms service providers.
“The licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are also expected to add 38,296km to optic fibre cables when they commence full operations”, Danbatta said.
The NCC chief assured that the Commission will continue to put in its best in the discharge of its mandates, especially in facilitating the deployment of broadband, which is “central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and national development.”
“Also, it is our belief that the communications industry, under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, will experience more quantum leaps and retain its current leadership role in the telecommunications space”
The BTS system is part of a GSM network that is responsible for the reception and transmission of radio signals from mobile phones.
It is a general description of equipment consisting of the telecommunication technology and the air interface of the mobile network (GSM, UMTS etc.).
The deployment of the 3G and 4G base BTS increased from 30,000 to 53,460, in the last five years while the Fibre Optic Transmission cables expanded from 47,000km to 54,725km
According to telecoms regulatory body, as at November, 2020, active telephony subscribers stood at 208 million with tele-density standing at 108.92 per ent while active Internet subscriptions of 154.9 million were achieved with broadband penetration rate of 45.07 per cent.
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