…Wants framework and legislation to compel contractors to repair damaged cables
Dr. Adedoyin Adeola, Ag, CTO, Airtel
The federal government have been called upon to enact a framework and put legislation in place to protect telecommunications infrastructure from frequent damage in the country.
Speaking at the Nigerian Communication Commission,NCC, Stakeholders Engagement Forum on Auction of the 5G network in Lagos,Dr Adedoyin Adeola, Acting Chief Technical Officer, CTO of Airtel said the need for such a framework and legislation has become imperative to save the operators the frequent cost incurred in repairing damage inflicted on cables and other infrastructures by construction companies.
He disclosed that the Airtel lost an average of 400 cable cuts monthly all over the country with the attendant cut implications for the company.
Adeola said that when such a law and framework is put in place contractors employ to construct roads will be liable to pay for such damage to cables which the telecommunication companies have had the burden to repair with the attendant additional cost of running and maintaining it’s infrastructures and operations all over the country.
Said he,”It doesn’t come cheap to repair damage cables and the rate at which this damage is done is quite high,we need to put a framework in place to reduce cost of operations by the telecommunication companies”.
“When the federal and state government employ the contractors,they dig our cables,cut it and only repair the roads without fixing back our cables with it’s attendant cost of repair to us. This is unacceptable.
“A framework should be put in place such that those who willfully damage telecommunications and other equipments without fixing them will be prosecuted.”he added.
In order to bring sanity to the system,he canvassed for the setting up of a joint committee comprising the federal ministry of works officials which will mandate road contractors to give notice of relocation of fibres to telecommunication companies to effect replacement before they embark on road repairs or construction.
He said until this is done,telecommunications operators can and regulators can then talk on how to improve service delivery in the industry as frequent damage to infrastructures is a hinderance to efficiency of services rendered to consumers.
In his own remark,Engineer Abiodun Orisadare of the Mobile Telecommunication Network ,MTN called on the NCC to reconsider a reduction of the auction price of $50 million dollars and that such licenses should be for a period of not less than 20 years.
Besides, he canvassed that the payment for spectrum allocated should be staggered with the balance paid over 5 years period of issuance and allocation .
He also debunked the claim that the deployment of 5G network has health implications saying that there is no linkage between the two.
In his contribution, Barrister Adeleke Adewolu,Executive Commissioner, Stake holders of NCC,said the essence of the stakeholders forum is for Nigeria to have the full benefits of the emerging digital economy.
On the auction price, he noted that the NCC will spend a lot of money to procure the spectrum adding that Nigeria must get the full benefit of the emerging digital economy with the support of all stakeholders.
