MTN Nigeria has liquidated its N350 billion fine by N80 billion paid out this year in two tranches of an initial N50 billion and another N30 billion just as broadband penetration in the country has surged to 20.95 percent. These were the highlights of the update on his one year in office given by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta at an interactive session with the media.

According to the EVC, MTN has paid an additional N30 billion to the initial N50 billion it paid out in good faith. This leave a balance of N270 billion which payment is spread over a period, according to the agreement reached with the telco.

While intimating the media with the progress made on the fulfillment of the 8-point agenda outlined last year as his vision for telecom, Professor Danbatta said Nigeria has reached a broadband penetration of 20.95 percent, according to data released by the Broadband Commission. The country has also within the period under review achieved 47.44 percent internet broadband penetration, second only to South Africa.

Danbatta assured that the remaining eights slots out of the 14 available in the 2.6MHz spectrum would still be put up for sale, assuring that going by the roll out plans as provided by the winner of the six slots, in this case MTN, services on this frequency would be available within the last quarter of this year.

“In the recent wireless broadband frequency bidding process for the 2.6MHz spectrum by the commission, MTN Nigeria Limited emerged the winner of six slots. The licensing of frequency in this slot has suffered several setbacks until recently when six slots out of 14 made available by the commission were allocated for immediate deployment of 4G-LTE services.

“By the rollout plans for this service as provided by the winner, broadband services on this frequency spectrum will be available in the last quarter of 2016,” he said.

“We have initiated processes for licensing of more broadband services on the 5.4GHz spectrum band. We have opened the process for the allocation of frequencies in the 70/80GHz band (e-band).

“Approval has been given for the deployment of 4G Long Term Evolution Technology by NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, which has launched the first Voice over LTE call on February 25,” he said, a clear assurance that Nigerians would soon begin to enjoy smarter service menu from different operators.

Danbatta also announced that the country’s broadband penetration had reached 20.95 per cent.

“Equally, on the percentage of Internet penetration, the country has reached a milestone of 47.44 per cent, second to South Africa on the continent,” he said.

The EVC noted that the Commission under his watch has intensified consumer-protection activism including dealing with issues of unsolicited text messages with the launch of the 2442 short code.

Photo: The EVC with some of NCC Directors at the press conference