Infrastructure Sharing: Telecom Firms Save N129.5bn
- By Lawson Ovih
- Published November 1st, 2010
- News
- Unrated
TELECOM companies in the country have saved operational costs of about N129.5 billion from co-location and telecom infrastructure. Infrastructure sharing by telecom companies was initiated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This was to enable the telecom firms to become more efficient and save cost of operations.
Infrastructure sharing which has been warmly embraced by telecom companies, especially in the global system for mobile communication (GSM) sector has resulted in co-location of about 3,500 towers worth N129.5 billion by co-location and infrastructure sharing experts in the country. This has helped to reduce cost of operation and extension of network service to the remote parts of the country.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman of NCC who called on telecom operators to take seriously the issue of infrastructure sharing, as it is practised in advanced countries, said NCC would ensure there is co-operation among telecom companies in that regard. “We have deliberated on key issues affecting telecom companies and we are working towards the successful implementation of co-location and infrastructure sharing among operators,” Juwah said.
And in line with this initiative, Mr. Ahmad Faroukh, managing director and chief executive of MTN Nigeria, disclosed that MTN would soon embark on sharing 1,000 cell sites with other operators for efficiency and delivery of quality service in the country.
This he said would lead to the growth of rural telephony which has suffered a serious set-back since the era of telecom revolution in Nigeria.
Infrastructure sharing which has been warmly embraced by telecom companies, especially in the global system for mobile communication (GSM) sector has resulted in co-location of about 3,500 towers worth N129.5 billion by co-location and infrastructure sharing experts in the country. This has helped to reduce cost of operation and extension of network service to the remote parts of the country.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman of NCC who called on telecom operators to take seriously the issue of infrastructure sharing, as it is practised in advanced countries, said NCC would ensure there is co-operation among telecom companies in that regard. “We have deliberated on key issues affecting telecom companies and we are working towards the successful implementation of co-location and infrastructure sharing among operators,” Juwah said.
And in line with this initiative, Mr. Ahmad Faroukh, managing director and chief executive of MTN Nigeria, disclosed that MTN would soon embark on sharing 1,000 cell sites with other operators for efficiency and delivery of quality service in the country.
This he said would lead to the growth of rural telephony which has suffered a serious set-back since the era of telecom revolution in Nigeria.
