Headlines
5G Technology: NCC prepares for roll out in Nigeria
The NCC said the deployment of 5G Technology in Nigeria will promote the nation’s digital economy and improve the way Nigerians live and work, adding that the technology had been deployed commercially and in use in some other countries.
…Policy document being developed
BY KAZIE UKO
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has vowed that the Fifth Generation Technology, otherwise known as 5G, will not be deployed in Nigeria until the policy which will have the buying of critical stakeholders is concluded and approved.
According to the NCC, the consultative document is currently being developed and will be shared with stakeholders and the general public, following which a ‘Stakeholder Consultative Forum’ will be convened.
“The views of all stakeholders will be considered in the final policy,” the telecommunications regulator said in a public notice issued Thursday by the Director Public Affairs, Henry Nkemadu.
Some of the listed stakeholders include: Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Assembly, Ministry of Health, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Consumer advocacy groups, academia, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Medical Association, World Health Organisation and Mobile Network Operators.
The notice disclosed that NCC had embarked on trial deployment of the 5G Technology in Nigeria with mobile operator, MTN, and also some relevant stakeholders and security agencies in November 2019, in six locations, using different equipment vendors, for a period of three months.
Nkemadu said the trial was conducted to enable the commission assess the performance of the technology in comparison with existing technologies, evaluate compliance to health and safety guidelines and also use the lessons learnt to guide policy towards commercial deployment.
“The trial which was conducted on the 3.5GHz and 26 GHz bands was successfully completed with performance showing improvement of 5G over the previous technologies with the radiation levels well below the specified human safety guidelines. The equipment used in the trials have long been decommissioned in all the locations,” the statement explained.
READ: Senate tells FG not to deploy 5G Network
According to the NCC, “In view of the successful completion of the trial and a directive from the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, the Commission commenced the development of a policy for the deployment of 5G in Nigeria. In line with its powers under section 57 of the NCA, and the need for wide public consultation, the process of developing this policy will involve a Public Inquiry which will involve all relevant stakeholders in the review and consultation process.”
The NCC said the deployment of 5G Technology in Nigeria will promote the nation’s digital economy and improve the way Nigerians live and work, adding that the technology had been deployed commercially and in use in some other countries.
On the health fears of the 5G Technology, the NCC said the International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) had classified radiation from 5G as non-ionizing and therefore safe for human beings.
It insisted that the deployment of 5G will be beneficial for the socio-economic development of Nigeria and an advancement of existing mobile technologies (2G-4G) with capabilities to provide new and enhanced mobile communications services.
“Such enhancements include applications like Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Drones, Advanced Communication Systems, Cloud, 3D Printing, Mixed Reality, Simulation/Imaging, Gamifications. These will bring improvements in manufacturing, transportation, public services, health and social works, agriculture, energy, logistics, media and entertainment, mining and quarrying, machinery and equipment, automotive, education, information and communication, urban infrastructure, consumer experience, sports, semiconductor technologies etc,” the NCC enumerated.