IXPN Laments High Cost Of Deploying Network In Nigeria
By Aroso Paul
The Chief Executive Officer, IXPN, Mr Muhammad Rudman has lamented that the cost of deployment of network in Nigeria has risen in geometric progression quite owing to power outage in the country.
This was disclosed at a workshop organised by DigitalSENSE Africa Media, in conjunction with the telecoms umpire, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and the Nigerian Information and Tecnology Development Agency, NITDA on Internet Governance: sustaining development.
The CEO, who is also the Chairman IPV6 Council Nigeria, Mr. Rudman said this issue of electricity has culminated into the challenges of internet access, adding that it’s not only in one area, it involves government, regulators and individuals.
He stressed that various state governments are also contributing to the problem of the network providers by charging them extremely high rate on tax and other dues, because they believe they have money.
Rudman also expressed the need to enrich the law governing internet activities in the country along side the evolving eco-system.
Mrs Nweke Nkemdilim, Convener of the workshop
According to him, enriching the law governing internet activities will stimulate enabling environment and ensures that the activities are properly coordinated and not contravening.
He pointed that it is very important that we relate our activities to the sustainability of the development activities in different area regardless of its size.
The CEO who is also the Chairman of IPV6 Council Nigeria, Mr. Rudman encouraged Nigerian youths to take up ICT as a career, saying that there are opportunities that are out there on the internet.
“New job roles, that are not in existence now would evolve in the near future. There is need for children to have access to the internet in order for them to learn and adapt”.
Speaking also, a representative of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr Destiny Amana emphasized the importance of internet in job opportunities and how the internet has gone a long way to empowering different people, who make judicious use of the internet. Adding that the Nigeria Internet Group is an advocacy group that helps and promote the internet in Nigeria and represent Nigeria on the internet.
Speaking also, the representative of the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs Funlola Akiyode encouraged all stakeholders to participate in the digital revolution, saying it’s a golden opportunity for Nigeria.
She also encouraged student to pick interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).