– Says Nigerians should expect gigabytes in a second, smart cities, self-driving cars, robust telemedicine
By Zakariyya Adaramola
Nigeria is ready and set to deploy effective Fifth Generation (5G) telecom technology soon, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.
Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), disclosed this while responding to questions during a webinar, titled: “Unlocking 5G Potential in Africa”, held on StreamYard, a live streaming studio.
“Trainings are ongoing and we are expanding the spectrum of beneficiaries, especially engineers and others who will extend knowledge to others’’, Danbatta told participants.
“We are emphasising enhanced broadband both in the wholesale and retail segments; we will also continue to sensitize people about the usefulness of 5G; and we will continue with existing collaborations with sub-regional, continental and global partners to ensure we deploy 5G with effectiveness.”
The NCC boss asserted that the NCC efforts in readiness for 5G deployment consist of dedicated follow up on the industry trends on the recently harmonized spectrum from World Radio Conference-19; clearing of relevant Spectrum bands identified for 5G, for instance the 3.5GHz; and identified spectrum for 5G in line with global trends.
He equally recalled the more recent development of a draft Information Memorandum for the 3.5GHz auction, and constitution of a committee to auction 3.5GHz mid band spectrum.
Other constitutive initiatives of NCC includes licensing of Infrastructure Companies (INFRACOs) to deploy Metro and Intercity fiber with at least one point of presence in each of the 774 LGAs in Nigeria, as well as opening up of Microwave and Millimeter wave, for instance, the 60GHz V-band, 70/80GHz E-band, 38GHz, and 42GHz, among others.
Danbatta also provoked a debate that demonstrated Nigeria’s readiness to deploy 5G and by so doing emphasised the centrality of multi-stakeholder nature of the emerging conversations around the technology that have triggered great enthusiasm.
He informed the audience that Nigeria has enjoyed collaborating with the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), the Africa Telecommunications Union (ATU), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the global superintendent of telecommunications.
Danbatta indicated that Nigeria continued to receive visitations by countries who wished to benchmark their operations, just as Nigeria has also visited other countries to explore how 5G and associated technologies can be deployed effectively because 5G technologies are not just valuable, they are so significant due to their derivable social and economic benefits.
The EVC explicated how to unlock the potential of 5G, using a triangulated framework pivoted on Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine Type Communication, and Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications.
He told the audience that the above scenarios will find expressions in gigabytes in a second, robust voice and real-time digital social mediation, massive Internet of Things like smart city and smart homes (connectedness of appliances and home security), and pervasive 3D videos.
Other benefits of 5G include Ultra High Definition screens, augmented reality, self-driving cars, industry automation, high-speed trains, lifeline and ultra-reliable communications in telemedicine and natural disasters that will deliver successful services using critical applications.
