BARCELONA: Pantami, Danbatta Leads Nigerian Delegation To MWC 2022 | READ DETAILS

BARCELONA: Pantami, Danbatta Leads Nigerian Delegation To MWC 2022 | READ DETAILS

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has led the Nigerian delegation to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 in Barcelona.

The Mobile World Congress, the most influential conference and exhibition of stakeholders in mobile technology, innovation and connectivity, took place in Barcelona from February 28 to March 3, 2022.

The Congress organized by Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) attracts participants from the biggest of manufacturers, GSM operators, mobile brands, regulators and policy makers from across the world, showcasing innovations, new products, etc.

The Nigerian delegation scheduled to participate in at least 33 sessions during Congress, engaged global players in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sphere to explore areas of strategic collaboration and investment for accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s emergent digital economy.

Pantami also lead other participants from Nigeria to meet; Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), representatives the World Economic Forum (WEF), and other key actors in the global ICT ecosystem.

Pantami, Danbatta and top echelon of the Nigerian delegation, held purposive strategic talks with Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), a global organization advocating for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization.

The discussion focused on spectrum sharing and unlicensed technologies as well as progress of DSA’s work in this regard, with emphasis on how DSA’s processes will benefit Nigeria.

Other engagements of the delegation include; meeting with Nokia to discuss potential government initiatives and how NCC and Nokia can collaborate more strategically to accomplish some policy objectives and targets of the institutionalized digital economy processes in Nigeria.

They also met SpaceX, a satellite operator to discuss licensing and authorization issues as they may affect SpaceX.

The Pantami-led delegation equally met with the representatives of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to explore and concretely engage about opportunities within the framework of the EDISON Alliance for Digital Inclusion, and the possibility of Nigeria becoming Lighthouse Country of the Alliance.

EDISON Alliance was launched by WEF to mobilize a global movement to prioritize digital inclusion as foundational to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is envisioned to enhance attainment of goals towards fostering affordable and accessible digital opportunities for everyone by 2025.

Speaking at the influential, global technology congress, Pantami said “The high-level discussion which Nigerian delegation is having with both original equipment manufacturers and other key players in the ICT world will enhance deeper alliance, collaboration and bilateral synergy required to accelerate Nigeria’s vision for a real digital economy.”

On his own part, Danbatta said Nigeria’s participation at the event on an annual basis is based on the realization that “MWC provides a vibrant deal-making environment for attendees, as it also remains a truly international exhibition attracting decision-makers in the mobile ecosystem which Nigeria is keen to explore to grow its telecoms and ICT industry.”

The 2022 MWC was attended by mostly senior executives and management staff of over 2000 companies, institutions and entities from 183 countries.