An Information Technology expert, Jide Awe has enjoined government to license more Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) so as to jazz up broadband penetration in the country.
Making this known on Tuesday while speaking to journalist in Lagos, Awe said that the move would also enable everyone to be digitally included.
Awe said:”The challenges of broadband penetration that is being experienced in the telecom industry needs the aid of InfraCos to help mitigate it.
“The ones that are already licensed are having challenges and this should be tackled with the help of government and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
“Part of the problem that is on ground is the issue of right of way, which is affecting so many development issues, especially digital inclusion,” Awe noted.
According to him, for development to take place in the country, everyone, irrespective of class should be involved in the knowledge of digital, adding it should not be just for a particular set of people that are buoyant to afford it.
In his words, “The other non-developed places have to be included so that people in the rural areas, the disabled and women will have access and be digitally included.”
He noted that apart from infrastructure, there was the need to have people who are knowledgeable and have the capacity and who would use the infrastructure to make the needed difference.
“On the overall, the ICT industry has not gone down drastically. But the more the broadband issue is perceived without having a solution, the more we are not moving forward.
“Even power that is an external issue is also affecting ICT, and we know what it means for young operators who constitute the economy,” he added.
