EXAMINING THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL CONVERGENCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Since the complete liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria in 2003, the industry has experienced steady growth in various aspects including increase in subscriber base, improved investment in telecommunications infrastructure, technological advancement in the quality and use of telecommunications products and services, among others. With these advancements also come regulatory gaps as developments in the industry move faster than the regulations therein. For instance, the concept of digital convergence was alien to the Nigerian telecommunications ecosystem in 2003 when the Nigerian Communications Act was passed and as such its regulatory scope did not factor in convergence. The nation celebrated the then newly found breakthrough of using mobile devises to make and receive phone calls and exchange text messages with 2G network which was the best available at that time. But with increase in technological advancement in the sector and the advent of 3G, 4G and even 5G network, mobile telephone devices can now do much more than just make and receive calls and text messages. In addition, with mobile devices consumers can now watch TV programmes, listen to radio contents, surf the internet and more. These are activities not contemplated within the extant broadcasting and even information technology legal framework. It is against this background that this research undertakes the examination of the legal and regulatory framework for the governance of digital convergence in Nigeria. Doctrinal research methodology was adopted because the work entails critical analysis of the extant legislations relating to the subject. The research found that there exists no legal or regulatory framework for the regulation of digital convergence in Nigeria. It, therefore, recommended that the National Assembly should pass a law for the regulation of digital convergence in Nigeria.