NCC Seeks Enabling Environment For Auctioning Of 5G Spectrum

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has called on federal government to come up with a level playing policy as it gets set to auction the Fifth Generation Technology (5G) spectrum by the fourth quarter of 2021.

Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the call on Thursday at the maiden International Conference on Information and Engineering Systems (ICIES) at Nile University, Abuja.

He explained that plans to deploy 5G technology create the need for the study of the electromagnetic radiation levels which will be generated by the 5G infrastructure.

The EVC who was represented by the NCC Director of Technical Standard, Mr. Bako Wakil, noted that for the process of the allocation auctioning, assigning and commercialisation of 5G spectrum to be seamless and successful, the Federal Government must provide an enabling environment.

“The government will provide an enabling environment for 5G deployment. But, the MNOs will determine their own deployment strategies, subject to alignment with approved policies and other regulatory instruments in force.”

“Securing spectrum for 5G is an antecedent for any operator to commit serious investment to 5G infrastructure.”

“This makes it imperative for the spectrum allocation and assignment process to be concluded as early as possible.”

“The following timeline is proposed as optimal in the policy document 5G Spectrum Allocation (Q2 2021) 5G Spectrum Auction (Q4 2021) 5G Spectrum Assignment (Q1 2022) and  Commercialisation of 5G Spectrum (Q4 2022).”

Danbatta, who spoke on the topic “5G Deployment: Catalyst for Digital Transformation in Nigeria”, explained that researches and tests had been carried out on the hazardous impact of electromagnetic emissions from 5G and that they were far below the minimum required standard.

He said, “The plan to deploy 5G technology creates need for study of the electromagnetic radiation levels which will be generated by the 5G infrastructure.”

“These tests were conducted in accordance with the International Commission on Non-lonizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines for general public exposure to time-varying electromagnetic fields.”

“The results of the test show that radiation from 5G infrastructure is far below the ICNIRP specification for protection of members of the public and therefore, suggest that no public health hazards are expected from the use of 5G in Nigeria.”

“Scientific evidence from studies carried out by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), all show that exposure to radio frequencies are safe and does not cause or initiate the occurrence of cancers.”

“We are hopeful that the 5G revolution will transform our nation and the economy digitally and become a developmental revolution as well as digital transformation tools, reaching out and bringing benefits to everyone everywhere,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Nile University, Prof. Osman Aras, explained that the conference would provide an enabling platform for students, researchers and professionals in the industry to share views on current research work for the advancement of knowledge, technology and multidisciplinary research.

Aras said the conference would not have any meaning without reaching end-users or put to practical use, otherwise, there would be volumes of knowledge on the shelves and internet without consumers.

“This will form collaborations for advancement of knowledge, technology and multidisciplinary research.

“We are in an era which has shaped our lives in such a way that our major concerns are contributions to the well-being of others, presently and in the time to come.

“The outcomes of this conference will, therefore, have no meaning unless they reach the end-users or put to practical use. Otherwise, we shall have volumes and volumes of knowledge, some on our shelves and others on the internet without any consumer.

“Many academicians have become aware of this fact as the number of conferences and participants increase dramatically.”

Prof. Steve Adeshina of Nile University, who was also the Chairman of the conference, explained that the conference was a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences.

Adeshina said:  “The conference is indeed a testament of the cooperation that exists between the two faculties.

“The ICIES is to provide an enabling platform for students, researchers and professionals in the industry across various fields of engineering and applied sciences to share their current research works, exchange ideas and form collaboration for the advancement of knowledge, technology and multidisciplinary research.”