Going by the ‘Wireless Broadband Infrastructure Upgrade and Expansion Phase 1’ under the National Broadband master plan 2013-2018, the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (FMCT) is expected to ensure 3G broadband services are at the reach of at least 50% of the population.
As part of efforts aimed at making Nigeria a leading economy by 2020, the Federal Government has even set 80% growth penetration in Nigeria’s 3G telecommunications services by 2018.
The realization of this objective would be based on the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Broadband in its 109 page document titled: “Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2013-2018” submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan in the second quarter of 2013.
According to the Presidential Committee on Broadband, 3G services would be powered by ubiquitous broadband facilities, stressing that broadband is an essential infrastructure of the 21st century, which enables access to business and job opportunities, improves healthcare, education and government services, and facilitates social interactions.
Three G (3G), short for third Generation, is the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology.
Three G telecommunication networks support services that provide an information transfer rate of at least 200 kbit/s.
The document also set stages for implementation.
Apart from ensuring that all new cell sites are LTE compatible, the Ministry will also articulate measures for complete digital dividend spectrum migration and release more spectrum for LTE through the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
FMCT through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) recent ‘Access Gap study’, discovered over 200 subsidy clusters across the six geo political zones which represent the areas where telecommunication services are yet to reach.
Subsequently, the USPF will utilize these clusters to identify target areas, define universal access service (UAS) interventions and map the interventions to the appropriate communities.
Dr Omobola Johnson, chairman, Universal Service Provision Fund and minister of Communication Technology, disclosed this at the Industry Forum to unveil the USPF new website and to launch the clusters of ICT Gap, held in Lagos.
Johnson said that the USPF in pursuit of its mandate to stimulate the deployment and utilization of ICT services in un-served and underserved communities and groups in the country, has continued to play a leading role in promoting and deepening ICT access and availability in the rural areas of the in the rural areas of the country.
She re-iterated that, mandate of the fund is the backdrop against which it developed the SMP 2013-2017 to guide execution of sustainable ICT projects which will improve the quality of lives of Nigerians and facilitate socio economic development.
Thus, the Access Gap study was conceptualized and has now culminated in the identification of over 200 subsidy clusters across the six geo political zones which represent the areas where telecommunication services are yet to reach, the Minister noted.
She emphasized that the Ministry, “will also share the results of the study with the Telecoms Operators to enable them get a detailed view of the needs and demands of the market and assist them in developing roll out plans for these unreached areas.