The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has restated that the recent hike in the cost of Right of Way (RoW) by some State Governments and Agencies is unnecessary as it will be counterproductive and slow down broadband development in the States.
Olusola Teniola, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in a statement released on Tuesday described the recent hike in the cost of Right of Way (ROW) as unnecessary move.
The ATCON President also commended the State Governors for the giant strides in the area of accelerating the development and growth of their various States.
He further reiterated the commitment of the association to work with the various State Governments and Agencies in providing an enabling environment for the establishment of more telecom and ICT Companies in the States, while noting that the recent hike in the cost of Right of Way (RoW) did not augur well with the Association because it is going to slow down development in the States.
He also canvassed need for collaboration between members which are principally telecom and ICT Companies that rely heavily on the State governments and its agencies to make policies that promote further investment that would lead to building more telecom infrastructures that are needed by the citizenry.
Teniola noted that the recent upward review of the RoW will make it difficult to deliver hitch free broadband services to the citizenry.
He further appealed to the state governors for reversal of the cost to what is being charged before.
On the socio-economic development of the State, Teniola said that is not mutually exclusive to Broadband Infrastructure development
According to him, “Our Association is aware that the state governments are passionate about improving life expectancy, literacy, increase level of employment in their respective States.
“With friendly business environment for telecom Companies, all these goals can be achieved on the condition that the RoW charge is not inimical to the spread of broadband infrastructure development.
“The Association, having justified our points for the reversal of the cost of RoW recently hiked by some state agencies, would continue to engage the state governments as we remain committed to contributing our quota to the development of the States,” he added.