Telecoms Operators Task Govts On Charges

Members of National Union of Electricity Employees in a peaceful protest over the non payment of severance entitlement in Ibadan last Monday. Photo: NAN

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on Monday urged State Governments in the country to reduce the costs of obtaining Right of Way (RoW).
Chairman of ALTON, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, told newsmen in Lagos that the service providers were pleased with the Lagos State Government (LASG), for reducing the cost of RoW.
RoW is the official permit that an operator needs to secure from the government to deploy telecoms infrastructure.
Adebayo said that there was need for other state governments to follow suit, so that there could be an even deployment of telecoms services across the nation.
He said the cost of obtaining RoW had remained the most difficult challenge that operators faced, in order to deploy services.
“We are very pleased about this development and we thank the LASG for being forward looking.
“We also appreciate LASG for seeing ICT as a tool for job creation and economic development, more than for revenue generation.
“Lagos has shown good leadership in this regard and we hope other states will take a queue from the good example set by LASG in this regard,” he said.
The ALTON chairman said that the reduction would allow for speedy infrastructure and broadband roll out in the state.
LASG reduced the telecoms taxes and levies in the state by over 40 per cent, while RoW charges were slashed to N500 per linear metre, down from N5000.
The state government said that the reduction was on the condition that operators would use its approved and qualified contractors.
It explained that it was to ensure the integrity of the roads after the fibre had been installed.