‘Corruption impedes delivery of broadband Internet’

President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, has said access to broadband Internet is a right that should not be denied Nigerians.

Speaking at the 11

th Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Annual Lecture, Omo-Ettu said the ‘last man’ must have access not only to telephone, but to broadband Internet as a right.

Commending the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on its Wire Nigeria Project and State Accelerated Broadband Initiative aimed at expanding the frontiers of broadband Internet, the ATCON boss said the projects need further reinvigoration as well as new radical initiatives.

He said there was the need to equip every school with functional broadband Internet libraries within the next five years.

He said: "The provision and access to healthcare, education communication, commerce, research and entertainment now and in the future, will be very much dependent on universal broadband penetration.

"In this era, health care will mean people can invite health personnel and be treated in their homes; educational institutions will require high quality network and broadband services for e-learning and Abuja will be as close to Zaria as it is to Abeokuta.

"To genuinely be able to include Nigeria in the global village, the last man¯wherever he resides must have Internet access which is only socio-economically viable via broadband.

"To achieve our aspirations for the last man, broadband penetration, not just availability, is imperative at the places where the last man is and where Internet must be assessed and therefore, where broadband must exist.

"We are, therefore, talking of penetration and not just availability. We should distinguish between access indices and actual access. NCC launched the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, (SABI) whose understanding to date remains sketchy to me and, dare I say it, perhaps even to the executors.

"While we cannot say those programmes have failed outright, they are, at best, work in progress and therefore, we need to proceed on the basis that they need further refurbishment as well as new radical initiatives."

He noted that corruption in public offices impede the delivery of basic services, broadband Internet inclusive, to the citizenry.

"Corruption and the lack of integrity in public service cripple the delivery of basic government services and aid to citizens who not only need them, but should have them as of right.

"For too long, the justice and effectiveness of public service institutions has been deformed by naked abuse of power, financial debauchery, perversion of justice, election-tampering, and nepotism.

"Beyond the last man having a phone and broadband access, we need ethically aware and competent officials at all levels as they form an integral part of the integrity of the government, business and ultimately, its citizens," Omo-Ettu said.

He called on the government to tap into the potential of the Glo 1 and Main One submarine cables in delivering broadband Internet by appreciating their place in Nigeria’s life and according them recognition and support; including the provision of a broadband stimulus funding.