NCC 97% ready to deploy 5G network
By Dayo Badmus,
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC says it is 97% ready to deploy Fifth Generation (5G) technology in the country.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, reaffirmed the status of the commission’s 5G technology deployment at the annual African Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTech 2021) held in Lagos on Wednesday, with the theme: “Embracing Changes and Digital Transformation in the New Normal,” a statement from the commission said.
Focusing his presentation on “NCC as a Digital Transformation Crusader and Nigeria’s in-Road to 5G Deployment,” Danbatta, who was represented at the event by Engr Oluwatoyin Asaju, Director, Spectrum Administration, stated that, following the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a change in the dynamics of people’s interaction, especially on the Internet.
According to him, almost every means of communication has become virtual in one way or the other.
Danbatta, however, stated that this paradigm shift in communication has led to significant increase in network connectivity requirements as a result of unprecedented upsurge in Internet traffic, occasioned by the use of a plethora of web applications such as Zoom, Microsoft teams, WebEx, Goto, Webinar and so on.
He said this has made remote work, virtual meetings, virtual studies and virtual healthcare delivery, among others, the new normal.
According to Danbatta, even though the network infrastructure in Nigeria has demonstrated some capacity to contain the surge in internet traffic, a lot of work is being done by the Commission to boost network capacity, sensitize the public and ensure accessibility to affordable connectivity during the period of the pandemic and beyond.
Due to the network traffic demand, the EVC said the NCC is working with operators to implement a number of initiatives to ensure network expansion.
These, he said, include an ongoing plan to auction spectrum in 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) band to operators for the deployment of 5G network in Nigeria.
