The Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ATCON) on Thursday reiterated its commitment to advocating better operating environment for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Value Added Service(VAS) operators in the country.
The re-elected ATCON President, Mr Olusola Teniola, made the pledge at the association’s annual general meeting in Lagos.
“”ATCON will not soft-pedal on its advocacy for better operating environment for member-companies,” Teniola said. Teniola was re-elected unopposed at the annual general meeting.
The President of Medallion Communications, Mr Ikechukwu Nnamani and the Chief Executive Officer of e-Stream Networks, Mr Muyiwa Ogungboye, were elected First and Second Vice Presidents, respectively.
Teniola, who thanked ATCON members for reposing confidence in him, promised better service.
He said that the ATCON National Executive Council would work tirelessly to digitise the association’s current secretariat while coordinating processes to erect a more befitting one.
He urged ATCON members to remain diligent, saying that ATCON would be a training ground for future leaders of the country.
“”Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem is now the Secretary to Government of Akwa-Ibom State, while Dr Ernest Ndukwe served as Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission.
“”This shows that ATCON is known for quality and effective representation,” he said.
He said that ATCON would engage states affected with fibre optic cable cuts to find solutions, describing the situation as challenging.
In his speech, Nnamani said that ATCON would also channel its advocacy to bridging information gap on the dangers of excessive taxes imposed by states.
He said that multiple taxation was an impediment to investment in the telecom sector.
According to Nnamani, the issue of Right of Way (RoW) has lingered.
*Some state officials have not realised the importance of telecom infrastructure. ATCON would do everything possible to defend and amplify telecom operators’ voices for better business environment,”he said.
ATCON was inaugurated on Dec. 10, 1993. Its members are indigenous and multinational telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria. Membership of the association has since grown to 100 companies.
