TheCable

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the number of third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) base transceiver stations (BTS) deployment in the country increased by 78.2 percent from 30,000 to 53,460 in the last five years.

In a statement on Thursday, the commission said fibre optic transmission cables expanded by 16.44 percent from 47,000km to 54,725km within the same period.

The statement quoted Umar Danbatta, executive vice-chairman of NCC, as saying the increase in telecom towers and fibre optic transmission cables has improved broadband and telecoms service delivery to Nigerians.

Danbatta said the effective regulation provided by the NCC has resulted in increased deployment of infrastructure by telecoms operators which helped to improve broadband penetration and other related service delivery in the telecoms industry.

“The BTS, fibre optic cables and other related infrastructure are central to the provision of improved service experience for Nigerians by their respective telecoms service providers,” he said.

“The commission will continue to put in its best in the discharge of its mandates, especially in facilitating the deployment of broadband, which is central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and national development.”

He said licensed infrastructure companies (InfraCos) are also expected to add 38,296km to optic fibre cables when they commence full operations.

According to Danbatta, 30 million Nigerians have signed up for the do-not-disturb (DND) service which protects them from the menace of unsolicited text messages.