Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of
the Nigeria Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, has said competition is
vital to the healthy growth of the telecoms sector.
Maida, who spoke when he received
a delegation of management of Airtel Networks Limited in Abuja, said the
Commission will give closer attention to managing the competition in the
industry.
“We are more inclined to promote competition
by creating a level-playing ground for all our licensees," he said.
The NCC boss explained that the
Commission is looking at all sides of the issue on competition in the sector.
"Indeed, the rising cost of
business is affecting every sector. We
are also looking at a win-win regulatory approach, but we need to be careful to
avoid over-regulation, as over-regulation is inimical to competition in the
industry.
“The NCC has recently undertaken the review of
all categories of licences, both class and individual, with a view to ensuring
that our licensees are still able to work well within their capital and
operating expenditure (COPEX),” he said.
In the same vein, Maida during
the visit by the Airtel delegation said, in line with regulatory approach, the
Commission considers it critical to have a win-win strategies and regulatory
framework in place to ensure sustainability of the telecom industry.
“It’s critical for the NCC and
telcos to develop win-win strategies for the Nigerian telecom industry so that
everybody gets value. The Minister has a blueprint, the President has the
Renewed Hope Agenda, and they need to achieve it while telcos need to deliver
value to the customers,” he said.
The Airtel Network delegation was
led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Carl Cruz, who congratulated the
EVC for his appointment by the President and confirmation by the Senate.
Cruz said while the Commission
deserves commendation for its competition regulatory policies and frameworks,
which it has put in place over the years, such efforts must be sustained to
ensure a healthy competitive environment for telecom licensees.
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