By Aaron Ukodie
The Association of Licensed Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ALTON) will roll out the drums tomorrow to celebrate 20 years of its existence with awards to some of the people that have made the Nigerian telecommunication industry record its huge success.
It came out yesterday thumping its chest of its achievements announcing that since its formation in 1999 its members have contributed over N15 trillion to Nigeria’s coffers, given Nigerians 172.9 million mobile lines, increased from 0.05 percent in 1999 to 123.5%.
The Association also said it has achieved over 123mn internet subscriptions across various technology platforms, taken its contribution to Nigeria’s GDP from one per cent in 199 to 11 per cent as at the second quarter of 2019. It has also brought in over $68 billion in foreign direct investment.
Besides giving its score card, the association went memory lane of why and how it came about, debunking claims in some quarters that it was once a subsidiary of some group and a sub-set of another association.
ALTON chairman, Engr Gbenga Adebayo spoke to journalists yesterday saying the association was never a subsidiary of any industry body, neither was it a sub-set of another association but that the body was formed in 1999 to respond to industry challenges that came up at the time.
“Our founding fathers, some of who are still with us, constituted the association to address the peculiar early challenges faced by Private Telecom Operators (PTO) as they were called at the time, some of these were issues of signaling protocol issues, interconnectivity, billing issues, multiple regulation and taxation issues of right of way and protection of the overall interest of private investors in the sector, which at the time, NITEL the incumbent did everything possible to frustrate their existence.
At the time it was formed, Adebayo said, the association was then known as the National Association of Telecom Operators (NALTO) but was incorporated in the year 2000 as the Association of License Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) a corporate body.
The association is duly registered under the laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria as an Incorporated Trustee, and officially recognized by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission and other regulatory agencies as the industry body for all providers of telecommunications and subsidiary services in Nigeria.
Members of the Association include all the major telecommunications licensees in Nigeria, particularly Mobile Network Operators (MNO) Infrastructure Companies (Infrocos) Fixed and Mobile Fixed voice and data operators across the various segments are all members of ALTON.
Since inception, ALTON, Adebayo said, continues to play a key role in market development of the telecommunications industry and its intervention on behalf of members on several issues such as challenges of multiple taxation, multiple regulations, rates and tariff determination, market competition, unfavorable government policies, Telecommunications as Critical National Infrastructure has been of immense benefit to the Nigerian telecommunications industry at large.
He listed ALTON first Board of Trustees and Executive Members to include late General Tanko Ayuba RTD, Chief Adebayo Akande, Chief Ezekiel Fatoye of Multilinks, Chief Mike Adenuga of Globacom, Mrs. Alero Nwanna, Late Engr. Alaba Charles Joseph of Mobitel, Mrs. Arnina Oyagbola of MTN, Mr. Chandon Kelwal Ramani of Starcomms, Alhaji Bashir El-Rufai of Intercellular.
Others were Chief Maan Lababidi of Starcomms, Mr. Albert Mashi of NITEL, Late Mr. Chioke Ogugua of Airtel, Engr. Adamu M. Yahaya Treasurers Chairman, Technical Intercellualr, Engr. Bayo Banjo Chairman, Commercial/Finance of Disc Engineering and Mr. Rueben Muoka Chairman, Publicity/Events of MTS.
ALTON, Adebayo said “has grown in strength and numbers and there is no doubt that we have also collectively contributed our parts to the development of the Telecoms industry, which today has become a leading sector in our economic development as a nation.”
While enumerating the key growth drivers to include independent and vibrant sector regulator, issuance of enabling regulatory instruments, private sector commitment to investment and business development and the size of market and diverse opportunity, Adebayo noted that the industry is still faced with five key limitations.
They include challenging economic conditions, poor state of supporting public infrastructure, rent-seeking approach to taxation and lingering insecurity of critical installations and equipment
