The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) at the weekend reiterated its commitment to vigorously pursuing the national broadband plan that would provide cheaper and faster internet access to Nigerians.

The commission stressed the import of broadband, saying a good broadband connection to home, office or business engenders "greater capacity to send and receive data far more quickly from your computer."

NCC's Director of Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Maryam Bayi, stated this in Ilorin, Kwara State, during the 73rd edition of Consumer Outreach Programme held at the main campus of the University of Ilorin.

The theme of the programme, attended by telecoms consumers who stormed the session to vent their frustration to network providers in attendance, was "The benefits of broadband to telecom consumers".

Broadband according to the commission "refers to high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access. It also provides internet access without keeping the phone lines busy."

Bayi said other areas broadband could be beneficial other than telecommunications include healthcare, public safety and emergency response, economic and workforce development.

Some telecom consumers however expressed anger over the barrage of unsolicited messages usually sent to people by the service providers. They equally faulted the service providers for allegedly charging mobile phone users for services they did not subscribe for.