The recently released national policy document of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has provided for the inclusion of local manufacturers in the telecommunication industry.
The policy which seeks for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector will see the coming of locally manufactured fibre optic cables and telecoms masts.
The policy document has the input of stakeholders in the telecoms sector in order to successfully promote indigenous content in the sector.
The policy objectives on manufacturing, the NCC said, is to stimulate the design, development, production, sales and utilization of high quality telecom equipment and services developed by indigenous companies as well as develop indigenous telecommunication companies to become world class manufacturers service providers.
In line with the policy, the government would incentivise the production of cables, connectors, masts and telecom tools in a way that meets global minimum and certification standards while also supporting local manufacturing through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to the NCC, the Policy would encourage the establishment of vocational training institutes focused on the design, fabrication and assembly of telecom equipment and encourage partnerships and collaboration between global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) engaged in the manufacturing of telecommunications equipment and indigenous players.
On the services side, the policy, according to the Commission, would enable the indigenous telecom industry to contribute significantly towards the overall development of the telecom industry and increase public sector patronage of indigenous telecom businesses and services.
The policy also harped on the creation of a conducive environment for companies and service providers to participate in the telecom industry and institutionalise a mechanism to ensure that certain categories of telecom services are reserved for indigenous players as well as monitoring and analyzing indigenous content compliance by operators and service providers.
