- The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has raised concerns about the challenges facing the telecom industry.
- Multiple taxation, Right of Way (RoW) bottlenecks, and vandalism are major hurdles hindering the sector’s growth.
- ATCON is calling for collaborative efforts among government agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to address these challenges.
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has expressed concerns about the ongoing challenges threatening the sustainability of the telecom industry ¹. According to ATCON, multiple taxation, Right of Way (RoW) bottlenecks, and vandalism are major hurdles hindering the sector’s growth.
The telecom industry is burdened with overlapping and excessive taxes imposed by federal, state, and local governments, creating a hostile operating environment that discourages investment and stifles innovation. Obtaining permissions for infrastructure rollout remains a tedious and costly process, delaying broadband expansion and network improvements across the country.
Persistent vandalism of telecom infrastructure, including fiber cables and base stations, results in significant financial losses and service disruptions, impacting both operators and consumers. To address these challenges, ATCON is calling for collaborative efforts among government agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
The association emphasizes the need for harmonized taxation policies to eliminate redundancies and attract investment; streamlined right-of-way approvals to fast-track infrastructure deployment; and enhanced security measures to protect critical telecom infrastructure from vandalism.
