The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has highlighted the role played by the telecommunications sector in lifting the country out of recession in the recently released fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for the fourth quarter of 2020.
The sector contributed 12.45 per cent to the country's GDP in the fourth quarter of 2020.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the NCC stated that the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that telecommunications and Information Services under Information and Communication, grew by 17.64 per cent in Q4 2020 from 17.36 per cent in Q3 2020 and 10.26 per cent in Q4 2019.
According to the NBS report, agriculture, industries, and services sector, under which telecommunications is categorised, contributed 26.95 per cent, 18.77 per cent, and 54.28 per cent respectively.
"This is a pointer to the fact that telecommunications, trade, services and crop production are the main drivers of Nigeria's exit from recession," Adinde said.
In specific terms, NBS report showed that largest sub-sectors in Q4 2020 are crop production at 3.68 per cent, crude petroleum and natural gas at 8.2 per cent, trade at 14.9 per cent, telecommunications and information services at 12.45 per cent, and real estate at 5.7 per cent.
"Telecommunication sector has, in the last five years been a major driver of the digital economy agenda of the federal government, as it has continued to provide the needed digital sinews that support the economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restriction period.
"Since the outbreak of the pandemic, government institutions, businesses and individuals have relied heavily on telecoms services to carry out their daily operations and official routines.
"In response to the increased demand, the commission put a number of regulatory measures in place to ensure seamless access by Nigerians to telecommunication services and protect against any adverse impact on the quality of service enjoyed by consumers.
"The steady growth of the telecoms sector over the years with its pervasive positive impact on all other sectors of the economy in terms of increased automation of processes and digital transformation in service delivery, has been remarkable.
"The growth trend since 2015 has reawakened hope that the economic diversification dreams of the country may finally be a reality as the sector continues to energise significant economic activities in the services sector of the economy," Adinde said.
He added that through effective regulatory regime emplaced by the NCC, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, telecoms investment grew from about $38 billion in 2015 to over $70 billion currently.
He said broadband penetration also increased from six per cent in 2015 to 45.02 per cent at December, 2020, indicating that 85.9 million Nigerians are now connected on 3G and 4G networks, which provide enhanced high-speed internet that has continued to boost efficiency and increase productivity across the economic spectrum.
"Recent statistics also indicate that between 2015 and December 2020, active voice subscriptions have increased from 151 million to 204.6 million, with teledensity standing at 107.18 per cent. Basic active internet subscriptions grew from 90 million to 154.3 million during the period," Adinde said.
He assured Nigerians that the commission would continue to be committed to its culture of quality regulation of the telecommunications industry and would continue to ensure a stable and robust sector which drives the digital economy agenda of the federal government and ultimately leads in the growth of the country's GDP.