Barely a week to the deadline set by the NCC for the payment
of the spectrum fees by the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, the Federal
Government has officially handed over the spectrum allocation for Fifth
Generation (5G) deployment in the country to the Nigerian Communications
Commission.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa
Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who also wears the hat of the Chairman, National Frequency
Management Council (NFMC), presented the official document on the 3.5GHz
spectrum allocation to the Commission at a public event, which took place at
the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday, February 17, 2022.
The 5G spectrum allocation document was received by the
Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Prof. Adeolu Akande, and the Commission’s
Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, on behalf of the
Commission.
Speaking at the event, which also witnessed the public
presentation of the National Policy on 5G Networks, a document earlier launched
by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2022, the Minister commended the
NCC leadership for ‘a transparent, fair and credible 3.5GHz spectrum auction’
conducted on December 13, 2021.
Pantami stated that the NFMC, which he chairs, has the
responsibility for managing the allocation of commercial and non-commercial
spectrum resources in the country while the NCC is facilitating the deployment
of spectrum in the country. Hence, the Council decided to allocate the assigned
spectrum for 5G network to the NCC to enable it assign same to the winners of
the 3.5GHz spectrum auction.
Pantami also stated that the 5G network, when deployed, will
bring a lot of benefits and opportunities that will engender accelerated growth
and smart living in the country. He asserted that the technology will bring
substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility
and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.
Earlier in his remarks, Akande appreciated the Minister for
his efforts in ensuring that every clog that could hinder successful deployment
of 5G services are addressed, thus paving the way for mutual understanding and
trust among all stakeholders to ensure that the derivable benefits of the new
technology are harnessed timely for the nation’s socio-economic development.
He said the effective implementation of the National Policy
on 5G, which the Commission is driving, will help in the actualization of the
national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the
National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, as well as other
sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital culture.
The EVC of NCC, Danbatta, while expressing appreciation to
the Minister and all stakeholders for the role played in the emerging 5G
network policy implementation initiatives, said the collective efforts of the
private sector and government support will make deployment of 5G network
transform every aspect of the nation’s economy. He was optimistic that the
expected transformation will be greater than what the nation witnessed with the
1G, 2G, 3G and 4G.
Recalling the diligence that attended the implementation of
5G policy by the NCC since the process started in 2019, Danbatta said Nigeria
had taken proactive and meticulous steps to be among the leading players in the
global digital economy.
“We have been meticulous all the way in our 5G deployment
journey, from trial across selected states in the country, to review and
stakeholder engagement, to approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to
the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, and up to the official launch of the national
policy on 5G network by the President.
“Now we have the official allocation of the spectrum to the
NCC for onward assignments to the winners. So, the coast is clear for the
country to assign the specific reference in the spectrum to the winners, upon
announcement of payments,” Danbatta said
Meanwhile, eminent stakeholders and dignitaries at the
event, have commended Danbatta for ensuring sterling record of transparency and
accountability in the sale of the 3.5GHz Spectrum Band allocated for deployment
of 5G network in Nigeria.
The stakeholders include the Permanent Secretary, Federal
Ministry of Communications and Digital economy, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu; the former
Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO),
Mr. Shola Taylor; Director General, National Information Technology Development
Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi; Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Plc,
Prof. Muhammed Abubakar; and the Director General of National Identity
Management Commission, Dr. Aliyu Aziz, among others.
Earlier in a presentation on the Benefits of 5G, Engr Shola
Taylor, a former Secretary of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation,
declared that 5G will have far-reaching transformational impact on major sectors
of the Nigerian economy, which will bring about rapid social-economic
development of the country.
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