5G deployment: EVC NCC tasks media to explore consultation document
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has charged Nigerian media to explore the draft Consultation Document for Deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology in the country.
Danbatta made this call at a one-day capacity building on telecommunications for members of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) held in Lagos.
Danbatta, who was represented at the training by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, advised media practitioners under NITRA to leverage the recently published draft consultation document for deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria, which has been produced and uploaded on the Commission’s official website.
According to him, Nigeria only undertook 5G trials in selected locations within the country in collaboration with an operator in 2019.
“The trial, among others was to study and observe any health or security challenges the 5G network might present. The Commission also has an ongoing engagement with the academia while at the same time funding 5G related research projects, all in a bid to ensure the nation is provided with the best in terms of research findings and policy input to drive the implementation and deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria,” Danbatta explained.
The NCC boss declared that the Commission has not concluded plans for the deployment of 5G network, and reiterated what was mentioned during the recently held NITRA Innovative Tech forum, “a landmark economy study conducted by Qualcomm stated that 5G will affect the global economy and drive growth exponentially.”
Consequently, he said 5G’s full economic effect will likely be realized across the globe by 2035, supporting a wide range of industries and potentially enabling up to $13.2 trillion worth of goods and services.
“This impact will be much greater than the current 4G network,” he said; hence Nigeria cannot afford to be on the sideline.
He pointed out that 5G when fully deployed will provide increased speed and bandwidth as well as provide deeper coverage to reach people in rural or challenging locations, just as 5G will provide strong security for the various sectors of government and private organizations.
In his words “Due to its sheer scale and scope, the ITU predicts 5G will accelerate the achievements of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) from affordable and clean energy to zero hunger.”
Danbatta therefore cautioned that the misrepresentation of 5G technology has the potential of derailing the launch of this new technology in our clime.
It will be recalled that at the wake of COVID-19, many Nigerians including citizens from other climes were harped on the notion that the introduction of 5G technology was the reason behind the spread of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This misconception was even made worse because those saddled with the responsibility of informing, educating and enlightening the average Nigerian telecom consumers were also bereft of the knowledge of this new technology and hitched a ride on the band wagon of doubters,” he warned.
Danbatta affirmed that exploring the draft Consultation Document for Deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology by the media, especially members of NITRA, would do the country a great deal, especially in the delivery of their constitutional responsibility as journalists.
