NCC urged to release 2022 telecom competition report

The Pervasive and Mobile Computing Research Group (PMCRG) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has asked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to release the findings of a 2022 study on Nigeria’s telecommunications competition landscape. The group of researchers made the appeal on Monday in a statement signed by  Adeniran Oluwaranti, the coordinator of PMCRG Africa Centre of Excellence, OAU ICT-Driven Knowledge Park. The group said the request was made under the Freedom of Information Act, which underscored PMCRG’s commitment to driving transparency and innovation in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving ICT sector. According to the group, the NCC engaged the globally renowned consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2022 to assess competition in the telecom industry’s critical areas of collocation and infrastructure sharing.

They, however, noted that despite the completion of the study, its findings had not been made public. The PMCRG said it sought access to the report to support academic research, policy formation, and industry-wide innovations. The PMCRG noted that the CIS segment was crucial to fostering competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape. It said the report’s findings would give stakeholders a clearer understanding of the current competitive landscape, the challenges, and the opportunities for growth. “Our mission is to develop a regionally recognised model for ICT research and commercialisation and promote solutions to Africa’s pressing technological challenges through high-quality postgraduate education, research uptake and industry collaboration,” the group said. They said that the FOI request, which aligned with both the Freedom of Information Act and Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, aimed at enhancing understanding of market dynamics in Nigeria’s telecom sector. The researchers explained that the findings of the 2022 NCC study could impact both consumers and businesses significantly. They said the report could shed light on the level of competition in the telecoms market for consumers, helping regulators ensure fair pricing and service quality. The group noted that for businesses, on the other hand, the study could identify new opportunities for infrastructure sharing and improved market access. (NAN)