By Darley Morountodun
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, on Monday said for Africa to have a successful digital economy,
it requires global standards and support robust network of technologies as driver.
Other requirements, he added, include, digital platforms and a comfortable level of digital literacy.
The minister made the disclosure in Abuja at the 7th study group 13 (SG13) regional workshop for Africa on: “Standardization of future networks towards building a better connected Africa”
He said Nigeria is happy to host the ITU-T study group 13 regional group for Africa meeting, which is holding back-to-back during the week in February.
He said: “As a member state of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Nigeria appreciates the excellent work of the body through its: Radiocommunication Sector Standardisation Sector and Development Sector.
According to him, standardisation sector through its study Groups and World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) uses experts from around the world to prepare, deliberate and develop international standards known as ITU-T recommendations, which, he added act as defining elements in the global infrastructure of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
The professionals, he said, are aware that standards are critical to the interoperability of ICTs and whether innexchange of voice, video or data messages, standards enable global communications by ensuring that countries’ ICT networks and devices are speaking the same language.
“The new focus is on how to use new and emerging digital technologies to transform the socio-economic life and activities of the country and for its citizens to embrace a digital economy culture that would impact positively on the lives of the people.
“It is important that Africa positions itself properly in order to key into the process of developing appropriate standards for future and next generation digital networks that support a digital economy eco-system.” The minister said.
On the country’s digital economy, he underscored that President Muhammadu Buhari, recently launched the policy and strategy (NDEPS) in November, 2019.
The document, according to him, is based on 8 pillar of: Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Solid Infrastructure;
Service Infrastructure;
Digital Services Development and Promotion; Soft Infrastructure;
Digital Society and Emerging Technologies; and
Indigenous Content Promotion and Adoption.
The presidential committee on the development of a national broadband committee is saddled with the task of preparing a 5 year broadband plan for Nigeria (2020-2025), Pantami, said.
According to him, the committee will cash in on the experience of the ITU as shown in many relevant documentations, stressing that the plan is to be completed later this month.
He said: “As you are aware, standardisation of equipment and networks facilitates seamless connection of systems and networks, without it, it would be difficult for people to communicate effectively from across devices, systems and networks.
“Without standardization, it would prevent us from having economies of scale and this can slow down the primary objective of the ITU to have interconnected and people and things.
“Standardisation of devices, equipment, systems and networks therefore play a key and primary role in achieving the objective of a better connected Africa and the world in general.
“It is obvious that the work of Africa regional groups in each of the study groups of ITU-T such as Study Group 13, is aimed at bridging the standardisation gap amongst African countries.”
To have a successful digital economy, we require global standards to drive and support robust network of technologies, digital platforms and a comfortable level of digital literacy.
The minister expressed optimism that the workshop will enable participants build capacity to develop standards for future networks.
“Such networks would support International Mobile Telecommunications-2020 (IMT 2020), Big data, Network 2030, Internet-of-Things (IoTs), trusted infrastructure, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning and other new and emerging technologies to facilitate and enable a connected Africa.” He said.