Carl Cruz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airtel Nigeria, has emphasised the critical importance of creating an investment-friendly environment to sustain the role of the telecoms' industry in driving digital inclusion and economic growth in Nigeria.
This was remarked at the Telecoms Industry Townhall, themed ‘Two Decades After What Next for the Telecoms Industry’, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
The hybrid event, organised by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), took place in Lagos and brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Aside from Mr Cruz, the panel also featured Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria; Kazeem Oladepo, Chief Operations Officer of HIS Towers; Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer of MainOne; and Olatunji Bello, Chief Executive Officer of Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
During the event, Carl Cruz discussed challenges and ways forward for the telecoms' industry, highlighting the need for an atmosphere that would encourage investors to help telecom operators thrive.
Telecom, he explained, is an enabler for digital inclusion and economic growth.
Mr Cruz said, “One of the major challenges faced by the telecom’s industry is the issue of security.
“The cases of sabotage and fibre theft every month are over a thousand. Now, capital being invested in Nigeria is being compared to capital being invested in other countries due to some impacts of these challenges.
“However, at Airtel, we understand that investing in infrastructure can be challenging, so we adopt a forward-looking approach as we believe that a country’s growth is significantly boosted by substantial investments.
“To illustrate this, I’m pleased to share that Airtel has established a digital lab here in Nigeria, serving our operations across the 13 other countries where we have a presence.”
Mr Cruz further underscored the necessity of a strong regulatory collaboration to support industry growth.
“Industry collaboration with regulators is also very essential for the country to progress.
“It is, therefore, imperative for players in the telecoms' industry to engage in constant communication with our regulators, especially to address the limiting factors affecting the telecoms business.
“On this note, I can say that Airtel and other operators in the telecoms' industry are currently doing this and are optimistic about favourable deliberations and outcomes that will boost the success of the telecoms' industry,” he said.
Other industry leaders also contributed their perspectives on the telecoms' industry as it relates to the financial sector and other business areas such as aviation and banking.
Some of these speakers include Chief Executive Office, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group); Temi Popoola; Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade, and Investment, John Uwajumogu; and Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Armstrong Katang.
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