Minister Shittu highlights benefits of 4G to economy, health

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the introduction of 4G broadband network in the country will serve as a catalyst for development.

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu noted that it would improve financial inclusion, drive business transactions and advance health care service delivery to underserve communities in the country.

Speaking at the official launching of the network by Airtel in Abuja on Thursday, Shittu noted that broadband has been a problem in the country because of the lack of resources.

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The Minister stated that the broadband penetration will help the nation develop faster than it could imagine as “there is no way we could develop as a nation without proper broadband penetrations,” adding that the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made many nations of the world surpass Nigeria.

Broadband in Nigeria context is high-capacity networks that can deliver a large amount of information at the same time at a minimum speed of 1.5mbit/s, this means 1 gigabyte file can be downloaded in 11 minutes.

At this rate, mobile users can access financial products and services in an instant, enabling speedy savings, credit, payments, insurance and other financial transactions which are important factors for financial inclusion, thereby boosting the business and health care delivery system even in the remotest part of the country where the network is available.

Airtel Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Ogunsanya, while speaking at the event said that the 4G LTE technology delivers a superfast mobile broadband service to its customers.

 

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