In a bid to combat rising energy costs and reduce carbon emissions, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) is set to introduce policies that will encourage the adoption of clean and sustainable energy sources in the telecoms industry.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, revealed this recently, during a roundtable discussion with academia, industry experts, and other stakeholders in Lagos.
The roundtable, themed “Refocusing Academic Research towards Alternative Clean Energy: Panacea to Paucity of Energy in the Telecoms Sector,” highlighted the urgent need to address climate change challenges and the increasing demand for energy.
With Nigeria’s telecoms sector now valued at $75.6 billion, Danbatta emphasized the industry’s significant role in transitioning to a sustainable energy future while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The policy to be introduced by NCC aims to promote ethical energy sourcing in the telecommunications sector and encourage telecoms service providers to adopt clean and sustainable energy sources, thereby reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to a greener future.
The policy framework will create opportunities for innovation and new business ventures within the industry.
Represented by Executive Commissioner, Technical Services NCC, Ubale Maska, Prof. Umar Danbatta expressed the belief that the policy would benefit the environment and foster collaboration between academia and other stakeholders.
He acknowledged the crucial role of academia in advancing research and innovation that can transform industries. The expertise, knowledge, and insights of academia will be instrumental in developing feasible alternative sources of clean energy for the telecoms industry.
The main goals of the Commission include refocusing future academic research towards exploring alternative sources of clean energy that can efficiently power communication infrastructure, such as solar, wind, and biomass technologies. The NCC seeks to leverage digital technology research to enhance the livelihoods of Nigerians.
In support of the initiative, Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, stressed the national and global significance of the energy issue and called for telecoms operators to diversify into alternative energy sources.
He also emphasized the need for more research collaboration between universities and NCC to develop innovations for the telecoms sector.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development Services) of the University of Lagos, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, highlighted the negative impact of dirty energy on the environment and pledged the readiness of Unilag to collaborate with NCC and the telecoms sector for further research to boost the industry.
In another development, the NCC announced that Mafab Communications, one of the companies granted 5G licenses, has successfully rolled out its services.
After fulfilling the condition of paying the $273.6 million fee in February 2022, the company formally received the license on February 22, 2022. The services were launched in Abuja on January 24, 2023, and in Lagos on January 26, 2023, targeting six cities: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Kaduna.
The NCC continues to monitor Mafab’s progress in infrastructure deployment to ensure compliance with its operating license.
The NCC’s commitment to promoting clean energy in the telecoms sector reflects the government’s efforts to drive sustainable development and support Nigeria’s economic growth while prioritizing environmental conservation.
