NCC tasks dons on research to replace foreign technologies in telecom sector

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulator of the Nigerian telecommunications industry has called on academics in tertiary institutions in Nigeria to submit research proposals that are practical; locally realizable and capable of replacing or enhancing foreign technologies in the telecommunications industry.

 The request for proposal is part of NCC’s corporate social investment mandate in support of initiative aimed at developing the telecommunications industry

According to the NCC, it is envisaged that the initiative will help to build capacity in the tertiary institutions and promote Nigeria’s contribution to the pool of technologies in use in the communications industry.

Areas of  interest includes  Innovative clean energy Technology,  5G deployment in Nigeria,  IoT Low Power Wide Area Network (WAN) Technology,  Advanced method of Quality of Service (QoS)/Quality of Experience Management and test mechanism and Monitoring and localisation of drones.

Interested researchers are required to submit proposals which must:

• Come from teaching Academics in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions; and

• Have a one-page executive summary of the research proposal to include relevance of the research to the telecommunications industry, deliverables, novelty of concept, methodology, team experience, project timeline and detailed cost schedule.

The criteria for the evaluation of the research submissions include the following:

• The area must fall within the specified areas of research
• Adherence of proposal to stated requirements above
• Novelty of research proposal (comprehensive literature review to bring out clearly the novelty of the research).
• Clear statement and explanation of the problem.
• Proposed solution to the problem.
• Proposed approach and methadolog7y
• Each project including prototype development must be concluded within 2 years.
• The project cost should not exceed a maximum of twelve million naira (N12,000,000.00) only. (the Commission reserves the right to review this maximum amount)
• Any academic with a yet to be completed research project with the Commission SHOULD NOT apply.
• Total cost (including all costs) of the project must be clearly stated and broken down in details, for which there can be no variation.
• Proof of concept (feasibility of idea with diagram, algorithm etc.)
• Clear relevance to the telecommunications industry.
• Evidence of local realization up to prototype.
• Cost reasonableness (cost of actualizing the idea including hardware and software requirements but excluding purchase of vehicles, Furniture or Internet data, foreign trips and allowances).
• Schedule of project organization• Coherent presentation/packaging of concept. Integration of research with education (capacity building of students via the implementation of the project in the institution).
• Allowance for researchers should not exceed 20% of cost of actually doing the research.
• Evidence of competence of team in executing the project (include past work and CVs of team members).

The submission will undergo preliminary assessment, thereafter  proposals that are adjudged promising and capable of developing the Telecommunications industry will be further evaluated by another level of assessors.

Besides, sponsors/authors of research submissions may be invited for defence of their proposals before a decision is taken on whether the Commission will fund their project(s) or not. Those with existing research grants are not qualified to apply for this.

Interested researchers are invited to submit both SOFT and HARD copies and CDs of their research proposals on or before 8 September 2020 to the address below. Please note that any proposal submitted after the deadline will be rejected automatically.

Email address: [email protected]