We’re making progress in enthroning 5G for digital economy —NCC

Nigeria has made some significant progress in the drive toward enthroning the national digital economy for the country.

This was disclosed by Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in his keynote address at the 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series on ‘5G: Enthroning Internet Governance for Digital Economy’ held in Lagos and powered by DigitalSENSE Africa.

Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development is put together by DigitalSENSE Africa, a project of ITREALMS Media group; made up of internationally reputed and award-winning Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry analysts and perception managers; professionally affiliated to African Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) for shaping the future of the Internet.

Buttressing his position, the EVC, who was represented by a Deputy Director and Head of Spectrum Database Management at NCC, Mr Abraham Oshadami, while dwelling specifically on, ‘5G: Enthronement in Nigeria’s Telecoms Sector’, outlined 11-points to drive home his assertion.

Some of these steps, he said, include the creation of a full-fledged department of Digital Economy in NCC with a mandate, among others, to ensure that the programmes and targets set in the NNBP 2020-2025 and NDEPS 2020 – 2030 are rigorously pursued, tracked, and attained.

According to him, they have developed and secured the Federal Executive Council’s approval on the Nigerian 5G Policy to guide deployments of 5G services nationwide, while acknowledging the efforts of the Minister of Communication & Digital Economy, Mr Isa Pantami.

In addition, he said, NCC has successfully licensed two lots of 100 MHz bandwidth in the 3.5 GHz Spectrum band for 5G deployment in December 2021, just as they set up and expanded the Internet Exchange Point capacity of 930 MB/s for Abuja to Lagos route, 620 MB/s for Abuja to Kano Route, 310 MB/s for Lagos to Port Harcourt route, bolstering landed total offshore broadband capacity of 50.74 TB comprising 40TB Submarine and 10.74 TB of Satellite and the figures are already set for increase.

Equally, he said, followed up on the global industry trends on the 5G spectrums such as the 26 GHz, 38 GHz and 42 GHz bands harmonised in World Radio Conference 2019 (WRC-19). NCC has updated the National Frequency Allocation Table (NFAT) to reflect the outcome of the WRC-19 through opening up the 60 GHz V-band; opened up the 70/80GHz E-band for both point-to-point and point-to-multi-points deployments, and developed and published the Spectrum Trading Guidelines amongst other benefits.

These, he said, are evident in the efforts of the commission being demonstrated in the smooth update of previous technologies such as 2G, 3G and the 4G; and the one that is now being implemented to ensure the deployment and adoption of 5G infrastructure and services in Nigeria.

Equally speaking, the Director-General (DG), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Balarabe Musa said that in the past few days, digital technology usage around the world has improved, including raising the bar on credibility of election results across the continent. Balarabe, who was represented by a delegation led by the Lagos Zonal Director, Dr. Chibuike Ogwumike, charged stakeholders, including various regulatory organs, industries, network operators, service-technology providers, public and private partnership organisations to synergise and be in continued dialogue to address the challenges that may face the widespread 5G deployment worldwide.