2015: ‘NCC’ll provide better regulationfor telecoms industry’

Nigerian Communications Commission
(NCC), has said it would provide better
regulation for the industry in 2015. This, it
said, would protect consumers’ interest
and help them enjoy quality services.
The Executive Commissioner,
Stakeholders Management, Mr.
Okechukwu Itanyi, who stated this during
the 69th Edition of Consumer Outreach
Programme held last week in Badagry
with the theme, “Broadband: What
Consumers Should Know,” noted that the
increased emphasis of the commission on
the need to protect, inform and educate
telecoms consumers, will make sure that
consumers know their rights, obligations
and are protected from abuses.
“If these are done, there will be little
incidence of vandalism because states
and communities know that telecoms
infrastructure in their area should enjoy
priority protection and more information
will be provided to the public.”
Speaking on the benefits of broadband to
all sectors, he said that through
broadband, new business practices and
models can be adopted, which would
increase revenues, reduce costs and
improve customer service.
According to him, being online allows
businesses to be anywhere and serve
customers anywhere and broadband also
promotes economic development and
revitalisation through electronic
commerce.
On education, he explained that
broadband can overcome geographical
and financial barriers to provide access to
a wide range of educational, cultural and
recreational opportunities and resources,
while enabling seamless communication
partnering among teachers, students,
parents and libraries of other institutions
worldwide.
“It can facilitate provision of medical care
to unserved and underserved populations
through remote diagnosis, treatment,
monitoring and consultations with
specialists. It can also create shared
services that reduce operating costs and
provide patients with a broader spectrum
of enhanced services, including
administration, scheduling and electronic
patients records.”
Itanyi noted that broadband could help
protect the public by facilitating and
promoting public safety information and
procedures, rapidly connecting response
teams with vital information to improve
coordinated, timely reaction to accidents
and disasters.