The Management of Pan African Towers Limited, a new entrant into the Nigerian telecom industry’s managed services and collocation market was led to the NCC by Wole Abu, its Chief Executive Officer. Abu - who came with Karo Akaba, the Chief Commercial Officer, and Abubakar Ibrahim, Regional Manager - said PATL started operations nine months ago and it decided to pay a visit to the Commission to relay its experiences in terms of its successes and challenges.
Abu declared that: "we cannot operate without the regulator’s support particularly because telecoms is a long gestational and capital intensive business, and therefore we need all the support, understanding and partnership we can get in order to succeed’. He stated that Pan African Towers Limited as a Nigerian owned and operated entity has differentiated itself by ensuring all its pricings are in the local currency (Naira) hence the MNOs and other stakeholders transacting business with her do not have to source foreign currencies when making payments.
Abu noted that power and multiple taxation are among the challenges PATL has been managing. He said PATL has been able to manage the power challenge by deploying innovative techniques such as solar-hybrid system and electromagnetic generators. He therefore asked for the help of the Commission to successfully address the issue of multiple taxation.
Idehen and his colleagues who joined him to receive the PATL team commended the Company for its innovation and strides on power generation and transactions in local currency. They urge the PATL to pay attention environmental impact of its operations, consumer-related issues, corporate social responsibility, stick to the sport and letters of its licensing conditions and seek authorization when necessary in order to have a smooth operations. Idehen noted that sanction is an issue the Commission is usually very reluctant to employ in its dealings with operators and therefore reiterated the need for all players in the telecom sector to keep to the terms and conditions of their licenses. Idehen said as a demonstration of NCC's commitment to accomplishing the 8-Point Agenda, and consistent with its strategic collaboration and partnership principle, the Commission will offer every necessary support to all operators to enable them to succeed.
Idehen said the need for infrastructure cannot be overemphasized in the telecoms space and access is needed in all parts of the country enhance digital transformation, and with the successes so far recorded by PATL, he expects the quality of telecom services to improve. Idehen and his colleagues also advised PATL to collaborate with licensed Infrastructure Companies in order to expand the frontiers of accessibility, availability and affordability of telecom services in Nigeria.