5G: NCC holds mock auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has successfully carried out a mock session for the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) network in the country.  

The simulated auction which took place yesterday in Abuja was preparatory to the main auction scheduled to take place on Monday, December 13, 2021, at the same venue.

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The simulation exercise was in line with the requirements stipulated in the Information Memorandum (IM) for the 3.5 GHz spectrum auction. 

The IM is a document that defines the process for the licensing of the 3.5 GHz spectrum band earlier published in the commission’s website at the inception of the auction process.

Using the Ascending Clock Auction System for the mock session, the three qualified bidders for the 3.5 GHz spectrum: MTN, Mafab Communications and Airtel, participated in the software-based simulated auction exercise.

The mock auction was witnessed by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof Adeolu Akande; the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska and the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu.

Others who witnessed the mock auction were representatives from the bidding companies, senior management staff from relevant departments of the commission, technical consultants, software consultants, legal consultants and other external observers.

Following the successful mock auction, the stage is set for the commission to license two slots in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band expected to be picked by successful bidders at the end of the main auction on Monday. 

In a brief remark at the mock auction, Prof Danbatta said the commission had taken all the necessary steps to ensure due diligence on the credibility of the consultants and to safeguard the integrity of the software solution being used to carry out the implementation of the historic national assignment.

Prof Danbatta said, “This is consistent with the open, credible transparent and fair manner by which the commission is known to have conducted previous auction processes which have been locally and globally applauded.”

In order to ensure a fail-proof process, the commission also carried out a simulation of the manual process of the auction. 

The commission had commenced the process for the auction of the 5G spectrum in the last quarter of 2021 and has since then carried out a number of activities ahead of the main auction.