Right-of-way fees are been formally abolished in Osun state, making it free for telecom and internet providers to build fiber optic connections.
The removal of ROW fees was announced today by Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun state, as a part of a digital economy strategy.
Right-of-way fees are a sensitive issue between state governments and Nigeria’s telecoms commission. The state is wagering that eliminating them will increase broadband adoption.
In Osun state, there were 3.5 million active internet subscriptions in Q1 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The data does not reflect 4G or broadband coverage in the state. But what is apparent is that any state that’s looking to become a significant player in technology and wants to attract entrepreneurs needs to have good internet penetration.
Nigeria has only 45% broadband penetration, thus it is still a problem on a worldwide scale.
The installation of fiber optic cables around Yaba was one of the crucial first steps in the development of Lagos’ tech economy.
When Main One started constructing a 27-kilometer fiber optic connection to reach the Yaba area in 2013, many entrepreneurs decided to set up shop there.
Osun is establishing a Memorandum of Understanding with Oodua Infraco to instantly deploy Fiber Optics throughout the state to achieve comparable results. 64 kilometers will be covered in the first segment.
Osun State Waiver To Attract Startup
Waiving right-of-way charges is still only one component in getting companies to locate in a state. Hence, Osun State is creating its first ICT strategy, and key components of this policy will localize the Startup Act, focus on the digital economy, and use Osun State Google Maps.
“As part of our quest for a digital economy, Osun is poised to be the first State to domesticate the Nigerian Startup Act,” the governor of Osun state said. After this event, I will submit my first Executive Bill to the State Legislature. The Act is set up to guarantee that new start-up promoters and business owners receive the appropriate mentoring and funding. Once domesticated, the law will further the objectives of the ICT and Tech Innovation policies.
To guarantee that companies and landmarks show on Google, the state of Osun is also starting a Google Mapping effort.
The state’s mapping coverage, according to the governor, was less than 30% in November 2022, and while it is currently at 50%, the goal is to keep raising it. He thinks that the success of online and small enterprises depends on mapping.
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