Last week, the Minister of Communication Technology unveiled the draft ICT policy as a chart for the growth of the industry. After taking a look at the document, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), in this interview with Oluwaseun Ayantokun, submits that it is a perfect document to which the government must practically show commitment in order to grow the industry in the interest of the Nigeria’s economy as a whole. He also speaks on other related issues and the contribution of technology in the current fuel subsidy crisis. Excerpts:

Having looked at the draft national ICT policy recently unveiled by the Minister of Communication Technology on the website of the ministry, would you say the final solution to the myriad problems confronting telecommunications in Nigeria is on the horizon?  
The draft policy will address issues confronting the ICT sector and if accepted for implementation, it will certainly move the industry forward in the face of the rapid technological changes we are witnessing in the industry across the world. The current policy is old and no longer suitable for the dynamics of modern Communications and Information Technology.  

Which of the policies are you referring to as old, the one NITDA is using or the one NCC is using?  
The ones currently being used by both NITDA and NCC. Last year, I participated in the review of the Telecom Policy and part of the issues that came up while looking at the old document was its relevance and suitability for modern day service offerings. These are some of the issues being addressed in the draft ICT policy document before us.  

A section of the draft policy says “the government shall make broadband Internet access available to all citizens” of this country. This is close to pronouncing it a fundamental human right. How ready are the operators for this possible challenge?  
The government has a duty to provide an enabling environment for operators to meet the increasing demand for universal access. The policy may set to provide broadband access for all Nigerians, but if the environment does not provide the needed support for industry players, the policy becomes “mere expression of interest”. However, if the government is able to support the operators by way of adequate protection for telecoms infrastructure, removal of all issues that constitute barrier to service deployment, elimination of issues of multiple taxation in telecoms industry as well as the new policy addressing issues of Multiple Regulation of the ICT sector, then we can look forward to rapid broadband expansion and provision of same for many more Nigerians. If the above and other issues affecting the industry are not addressed, the policy will again amount to nothing other than mere provisional expression of interest to achieve broadband for all Nigerians.  

Do you think the government can rise to the challenge?  
Governments in the past have not demonstrated enough commitment to live up to this challenge, but we hope that with the effort being made by the current Minister for CT, and with the needed support by all stakeholders, we can achieve the provisions made in the new policy earlier than expected, for the benefit of all Nigerians.  

In specific terms, what would ALTON suggest to the Federal Government as to strategies and implementation if the draft policy is finally adopted?  
The Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (CT) should be charged with the responsibility of implementation if the draft document is finally adopted. This document should be the template on which the industry will develop over the next five years and beyond. There should be no material changes in the implementation except where there are exigencies due to technological development. Stakeholders pair review mechanism should be done on yearly basis to see our level of compliance with the implementation process.  

The whole world saw the contribution of the Internet or technology generally to the Arab spring. Can it be said that telecommunication has facilitated or enhanced the success so far of the ongoing fuel subsidy crisis in Nigeria ?  
The world today is a village and modern communication is a tool to exchange information without any geographical or cultural boundaries. It empowers the average persons to express themselves and has given power of communication to the ordinary citizens who may never be heard, but for modern ICT tool. Communication offered protesting Nigerians a means of keeping abreast of happenings across the country and whilst the strike actions were going on, people could keep in contact with one another to know their well being and that helped in no small respect to reduce anxiety and uncertainties.  

Kindly tell Nigerians how telecoms tarrifs will make some upward move if subsidy is finally removed.  
The Telecom industry operates within the country’s social- economic framework. Therefore, increases in cost of supplies will naturally affect cost of service provision. Though most telecom sites are powered by diesel, all other cost elements have operations and maintenance one form of dependence or another on PMS. Therefore, increase in cost of the later with other associated cost increases will result in an increase in cost of service provision and may lead to increase in end tariffs.  

A spokesman of one of the operators has said that given the level of competition in the telecoms market, which is a liberalised one, tariffs should not be expected to shoot up, irrespective of the cost of PMS in the country. How do you reconcile this with your view that the current exiting might lead to higher call rates?  
Tariffs are best left to market forces to determine, given that Telecoms industry operates within the country’s social- economic framework. Therefore, increases in cost of supplies will naturally affect cost of service provision. Though most telecom sites are Powered by Diesel, all other cost elements of operations and maintenance have one dependence or another on PMS. Therefore, I maintain that increase in cost of the later in addition to the challenges of our operating environment with other associated cost increases will result in an increase in cost of service provision and may lead to increase in end tariffs.