THE NIGCOMSAT/NCC BROUHAHA

There is a raging controversy between the newly established NigComSat and the NCC as who should control what and why? In the thinking of the NCC, it thinks it should take over the duties and responsibilities of NigComSat, it reasoned that the creation of the new establishment is a duplication of its own statutory functions. Hence, it sees NigComSat as a meddlesome interloper in its internal affairs. Whereas Nigcomsat sees itself as creation of government and law, established specifically to render carefully spelt out functions that will ultimately benefit the Nigerian people.

But without taking sides, the first thing that will strike any perspective thinker on this issue is that, how well has the NCC discharges its duties and responsibility since it was established? As it been able to deal effectively with the numerous complaints that have attended the way and manner the different GSM operators conduct there business in Nigeria? Has it been able to decisively deal with the problem of incessant network failures? Has been able to deal with the high charges imposed on Nigerians for no just reasons? How well as the NCC been able to deal with the vexed issue of frivolous and phantom sale promotions undertaken by the GSM service providers? How has the NCC tackled the issue of credit deduction without using the handset? Or when a client makes a phone, some unknown person picks up the call? Has the NCC dealt with the issue of allocating the SIM card number to three different people?

So, if it has been established that, the NCC has performed abysmally low in the discharge of its functions and responsibilities, then why does it wants to take over the duties of NigComSat that was specifically created to render some peculiar functions different from that of NCC. Yet there is apparent identical need for access to knowledge through the use of information technologies.

In essence, every non-technical discourse of technology boils down to its value. But regardless of what technology can do, we need to reflect on what we consider to be the major challenges of contemporary Nigerian society. Socially, Nigerians, indeed Africans, will see poverty, education, housing, health, transportation, etc. as major challenges.

As a corollary, economically, majority of the people would love to see expanded market which is capable of opening up economic opportunities and in turn economic empowerment; and politically, Nigerians want to experience more access to power which translates to robust electoral culture, greater debate and all-inclusive political participation. So, the argument here is how technology, in content and context, can be transformative.

In this respect, satellite technology holds a great promise. Aside from addressing the deficits of fibre optics and hitherto existing technologies, satellite communication guarantees the transfer of unimaginable quantum of data, enhances human capacity to monitor trends in many facets of life and to check occurrence of disasters. In short what the satellite has done is to create the possibility of moving information into knowledge structure and therefore arms man with power to dominate his environment because with it we can locate phenomena before they become disastrous.

By the way, how many people, companies, planners etc, know about these possibilities – How many educational policy planners, for instance, are conscious of the promise of satellite technology to their vocation? And the fact that we now have a satellite in space that can make us have a great leap in education and indeed in all other sectors. How many people know that the deployment of Nigcomsat’s applications means that our financial institutions like the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, (worth over 7 trillion Naira), will transact business and transfer secured data at a faster rate?

How many of us know that, while information and communication technologies (ICTs) are expanding at an exponential rate, their development is lopsided and that NigComSat represents a new beginning of conscious, albeit modest, attempt to redress this painful global reality? As captured by the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), More than 75% of Internet users live in few rich countries, which account for less than 15% of the world’s population. In other words, more than 80% of human beings do not have access, through modern means of communication, to the information and knowledge by humanity – This is what is popularly referred to as THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

This explains why the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) established the DSF, within the framework of the Geneva 2003 World Summit on Information Society, as a demonstration of practical action to transform the digital divide into digital solidarity. This is to be realized by instituting processes that will place information technologies at the heart of local development and by promoting an inclusive knowledge society for all.

Otherwise called the Geneva Principle or One Percent Digital Solidarity Principle, DSF raises fund through an appeal to the conscience of the public and private institutions to introduce the digital solidarity principle in their bidding procedures pertaining to information technologies. So the vendor who wins the bid pays one percent of the transaction, deducted from his profit margin, directly to the DSF and in recognition, it is awarded the “Digital Solidarity” label.

Thus, the greatest demonstration towards bridging the divide by any African country especially through a concrete technological architecture of information and communication, took place in May 13 2007, when Nigeria launched a geo-stationary communication satellite (Nigcomsat 1). Being the first of its kind to be wholly owned by an African country, Nigcomsat-1’s 28 transponders and 7 antenna systems holds a quantum of transformative possibilities on the fortunes of Africa.

Earlier in September 2003, Nigeria joined the select group of countries with national satellites in orbit when it successfully launched an earth observation satellite – NigeriaSat1. It was this phenomenal success that informed Federal Government’s decision to explore the possibility of launching a national communications satellite system as a prime condition and a major ICT backbone for improving the nation’s (nay Africa’s) poor information and communication infrastructure, and as a catalyst for national development.

Thus, on the 4 th of April 2006, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd.) was incorporated by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology as a limited liability company in line with the provisions of the Executive summary and Business Plan of the Project approved in 2004 by the Federal Executive Council. Consequently, the Project Management Office was transformed into a fully fledged corporate vehicle for the assumption of responsibilities and future direction and development of the project.

On December 15 2004, after a bidding process involving companies from the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Israel and Russia, the National Agency for Space Research and Development (NASRDA), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, signed a contract with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) to design, manufacture and launch the Nigerian Communications Satellite One (NigComSat-1). The Satellite was launched on May 13, 2007 at Xichang, a satellite launching site in China.

Another central component of the contract was the construction and installation of a prime Telemetry, Tracking and Control (TT&C) station in Abuja Nigeria and a Back-up TT&C station in Kashi, China. The sub-contractor, China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General (CLTC) was in charge of the two ground stations and both of them have been handed over, upon inspection, to NASRDA/NIGCOMSAT. The commissioning and delivery of Nigcomsat-1, Abuja TT&C Management station held on 16 July 2007.

On 5th May 2007, the former President approved specific spectrum allocation to NigComSat Limited and “total” frequency license for any telecommunication service NigComSat may wish to offer. It is germane to state that under the extant regulations, NigComSat as a government owned company is required to apply to the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications or the President for spectrum allocation and not to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). However, since the President's approval has been communicated to NCC, the NCC ought to comply with the presidential directives.

The request made to the President was in respect of fixed satellite spectrum which is congruent to its operation. NigComSat does not require the approval of NCC on this because it is allocated for satellite communication on a primary basis by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Importantly, the spectrum is vacant and free, which explained why the President allocated it to NigComSat. This approval was properly communicated to NCC by the Presidency to enable it to update its frequency chart.

advertisement

NigComSat’s Board of Directors never advised against going into the provision of telecommunication services. The board is made up of men of integrity who are passionate about the development of our country, and they all knew the President had given approval for the company to offer any form of telecommunication service it is capable of offering; the Company's Memorandum of Association also permits it to go into telecommunication services; and all over the world, most companies that operate and manage communication satellites also provide such end-to-end services. Examples of such companies abound but the following would suffice due to constraint of space: Intelsat, Eutelsat, Telenor Network, Singtel/OPTUS, Korea Telecom, ASTRA (which states clearly that its vision is “to become the leading network services provider in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to the convergent fixed and mobile, telecoms and media sectors”), Thuraya (which even provides rural communication services) and SES AMERICOM (which owns 49% of QuetzSat and QuetzSat like most subsidiaries of SES AMERICOM, offers end-to-end services).

Just in January this year, five months before NigComSat-1 was launched, NCC granted a 3G license to Mubadala, a company wholly owned by the Government of United Arab Emirate, to operate telecommunications services in Nigeria. It is interesting to also note that Mubadala is about to launch its own satellite to be managed by Al YahSat.

The Presidential approval for spectrum and frequency allocation already indicated that the commercial value of the spectrum will be capitalized in our equity. In essence, ultimately the Federal Government will hold only 40% of NigComSat's equity. As we write, Nigerian banks are ready to take 25% of our equity, which goes back to Nigerians who bought shares in the banks through the IPOs. The remaining 35% will be sold next year on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Opposition to NigComSat full operation is rooted in the fact that we are deploying state-of-the-art facilities to offer world class services at cheaper rates. Importantly, NigComSat Limited is positioned to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria by championing affordable and qualitative telecommunication services to rural and unserved urban centres. The desire is to be able to have consumer broadband services to private homes as obtained abroad and also deliver Internet services to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions all over the country. This will definitely revolutionize our education system. The pertinent question to ask at this point is: Why should a regulatory agency that has responsibility to ensure quality service delivery have problem with a company which mandate it is to provide quality service delivery?

In any case NigComSat is not providing GSM services. NigComSat is DEPLOYING 3.5G-to-4G MULTIMEDIA NETWORK WHICH GUARANTEES CUSTOMERS UNFETTERED ACCESS TO VOICE, DATA AND VIDEO SERVICES ON THEIR HANDSETS ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Other derivable benefits from NigComSat's applications include:

I. Tele-education - Expansion of opportunities for education through internet based learning, otherwise referred to as E-learning. This will create access to education to distant and remote areas with attendant reduction in cost of travel for students; bridge the gap in professional isolation of rural teachers; and cause improvement in the quality of education through access to quality learning resources irrespective of geographical location.

II. Community Telecommunications Centres - Nigcomsat-1 will provide the much needed communication facilities in different communities. This will especially be beneficial to people living in inaccessible areas as they will have easier access to telecommunication services by the use of various technological solutions via Nigcomsat-1.

III. Poverty Alleviation - Since information and knowledge are critical components of poverty alleviation strategies, NigComSat-1 holds the greatest promise for access to transformative information and will therefore play a key role in poverty reduction and giving a “voice” to the deprived in our society.

IV. Stimulation of SMEs - Because of its potential to bridge the digital divide, NigComSat-1 will create opportunity for SMEs to access global US$1.2 trillion business opportunities thus bolstering existing small and medium enterprises.

VI. Political Awareness & Participation - NigComSat-1 will heighten political education and awareness through e-government. It will also promote good governance, transparency and socio-political integration of various communities and ethnic groups through the provision of better access to qualitative information.

VII. Revenue Potential - With the deployment of various services such as e-education, e-commerce, e-banking, etc., the projected revenue potential of NigComSat-1 is enormous. Business transactions can also be done on a real-time basis between partners such as suppliers and customers and on a global scale.

VIII. Job Creation - A multiplier effect will result from pervasive services that Nigcomsat-1 will engender through its operation and partnership with various service providers who will in turn engage the services of a number of people directly and indirectly.

IX. ICT backbone - Nigcomsat-1 provides a reliable backbone structure for carrying data, voice and video traffic.

X. Reduce Capital Flight- It will provide opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians to receive a sizeable portion of the age old capital flow because it will conserve a capital flight of over US$95 million spent annually on bandwidth by Nigerian users and over US$660 million by African users for telephone trunking and data transport service.

XI. Improved Business Environment - Nigcomsat-1 will provide cheaper and more available communication through VoIP, Video conferencing, Video streaming, etc., to enhance businesses and transactions and also opening up new business horizons and accelerating the growth of innovative services in different sectors of our economy.

XII. Investment security - Nigcomsat-1 will improve security over corporate networks, process control, and resources and pipeline monitoring.

These are some of the services that Nigerians will begin to enjoy from NigComSat-1 applications and as we plan to launch more satellites we want to ensure that we optimize and maximize the gains of NigComSat-1 in order to nudge investors to come on board. Interestingly but painfully, these are valuable services that NCC is robbing Nigerians of by its actions.

The Telecommunications system in Nigeria is plagued by a variety of shortcomings of which the customer bears the brunt. Problems such as dropped calls, unclear signals, difficulty in establishing connections, jamming and poor data sericves are presently synonymous with the telephony system in Nigeria. Moreover, the customers are still subjected to high costs of calls.

The Telephone Operators attribute these shortcomings to unstable power supply, inadequate security and faults within the transmission backbone. The Regulators on the other hand attribute the problems purely to congestion on the network

However, it is apparent that the problems in the telephony system in Nigeria will continue to exist as long as poor network planning and management continues. The demand for telephone services far exceeds the supply, thus subscribers have outgrown the channel capacity of the existing networks. The situation is further compounded by weak regulatory sanctions against operators that provide sub-standard services. The Nigerian consumer is the ultimate casualty of these shortcomings, as the co-operative monopoly imposed by the major telecoms operators and the technology limitations of the 2G- 2.5 G afford them no viable alternatives at the moment.

It is important that the Operators enhance their Channel Capacity/Backup via NigComSat-1, demobilize the power Generators and outsource the Power and security systems.

Further more, the Regulators should enforce penalties as empowered by law and open up the sector for competition and protect new entrants against entry barriers. They should also proffer and encourage innovative solutions for QoS improvements. So rather than fight with NigComSat, NCC should co-operate with its sister agency and make life more meaningful for Nigerians.

 

Saliu Iyanda,

No 170, Ibrahim Taiwo Road,

Ilorin ,

Kwara State .