The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has emphasized on the need to review the existing licensing structure in the telecoms industry.

Danbatta made this known while inaugurating an in-house Standing Committee to carry out the process for the review.

The EVC, said the need for the review of the existing license structure was informed by the wide range of technological advances, convergence of technologies and services which have characterized the global telecoms space over the years, and which impact is increasingly being experienced in Nigeria.

According to him, the current licence structure is almost 20 years old, hence the need for an urgent review of the existing licence pattern to reflect new licensing trends in line with international standards while providing opportunities for improved revenue for government.

“Therefore, it is evidently clear that this Standing Committee, drawn up from competent hands in various departments of the Commission, is perfectly suited and capable of addressing the enormous task of reviewing the existing licence structure of  telecom licensees in Nigeria,” he said.

While noting that the work of the Standing Committee will be carried out in phases, Danbatta said effective delivery of the Committee’s task will help the Commission to institute a process, which will culminate in the review of the terms and conditions of the various licence categories. These, he said, will include licensing fee, as well as identification of the limitations of the various licence categories, with a view to clearly determining licences that should be phased out or amended.

Specifically, Danbatta outlined Management’s seven-point deliverable from the Committee to include a comprehensive review/report on existing licences; report and recommendations on consultative fora; and report on recommended new licence undertakings.

Others include a report on recommended amendment to licence fees and duration; a report on bench marking of license with similar jurisdictions, a report on the impact of certain licences on other licence holders. The Committee is also expected to recommend solutions as well as the develop updated regulatory framework for new and amended licences as the case may be; and a final report on the project with all recommendations.

Also speaking during the inauguration of the Committee, the Director, Licensing and Authorization, NCC and Chairman of the Committee, Mohammad Babajika, assured the Commission’s Management of the Committee’s resolve to deliver on the terms of their assignment.