THE Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo has re-echoed the need for bailout packages for ailing telecoms operators in the country.Specifically, Adebayo, who said bailout packages could come in form of incentives, such as granting of exemptions, waivers or rebates, stressed that the Association has made several presentation to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on several ways the regulator can be of assistance to ailing operators in Nigeria.The ALTON boss stated this at the weekend during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Etisalat Nigeria in Lagos.He said, We had made representation to the NCC to develop an incentive-based bailout plan for the industry by granting exemptions, waivers or rebates on certain portions of the levy to ailing operators as a means of providing regulatory support, considering payment suspension and reductions of dues payable to the Commission, which would further assure the sustainable growth of the industry.Adebayo, who recalled a recent closure of some telecoms base transceiver stations across the country by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, said the association would continue to engage the agency on issues of approvals and Environmental Impact Assessment as well as sites audit.Though, ALTONs interacted with the environmental agency, a lot of works are still in progress, he added that continuous engagement with the agency would rob off positively on telecoms operators in the country.On several other challenges facing the telecoms industry, the ALTON boss said that the seemingly insurmountable power supply crisis in the country and high insecurity of telecoms infrastructure and personnel were responsible for poor quality of service in the telecoms sector.Adebayo added that capacity issues and multiple taxations were also part of the factors hindering the provision of quality services by the telecoms networks.According to him, interference of state and local government agencies in the smooth operation of telecoms services also formed a major hindrance to QoS in the country.He noted that the association had appeared before Ad-hoc Committee on Telecoms Quality of Service at the Senate and the House of Representatives, adding that it had always maintained the position that the stated factors were responsible for poor telecoms service in the country.He also said that the association had advised the Nigerian Communications Commission to look into providing incentive for ailing telecoms operators.On the advocacy role of the association, Adebayo said, We are committed to enhancing growth in the Nigerian ICT sector, whilst ensuring a healthy balance between market growth, profitability for the operators and efficient as well as affordable service delivery to our subscribers.Our intervention on behalf of members on several issues, including multiple taxation, interconnection rate determination, market competition and unfavourable government policies has been of immense benefit to the industry at large, he added,In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, pledged his total support to ALTON and said he was available to the leadership of the association anytime.Evans said Etisalat was ready to support the association financially and morally in achieving its duties and goals.Evans, who said the telecoms operators investment in the country is now well over $2 billion, however cautioned policy makers in the country against multiple regulations; saying it sent wrong signals to foreign investors.
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