TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and Chairman of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), chaired the 58th Regular Meeting of the Council on Thursday, 4th August 2022.  

The NFMC resolved to remind members of the public, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Governments that by the provisions of Section 28 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), the NFMC is the apex body for Radio Frequency Spectrum Administration in Nigeria.

In a statement available to TechEconomy, Dr. Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Research & Development) to the Minister, said the meeting resolved, accordingly, any radio frequency-based equipment that is to be installed by any individual, private company, Government or Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) for the purpose of management of the radio frequency spectrum, in whatever guise, must be cleared by the NFMC. 

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“For further clarification, commercial private companies/organisations should contact the statutory regulatory bodies, i.e., National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for commercial broadcasting and telecommunications entities, respectively.

“The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy manages radio frequency spectrum that are used by entities such as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Governments, Embassies, Diplomatic Missions, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), individuals and private companies/organisations for non-commercial purposes. 

“Furthermore, management of the Radio Frequency spectrum by the Ministry includes planning, assignment, coordination, resolution of harmful interference complaints, monitoring and licensing of radio frequency spectrum and radio communication stations for the category of users mentioned above.

“No civil MDA, individual, private, or public entity is authorized to install radio frequency-based equipment for the purpose of monitoring or managing the spectrum of its organisation or sector unless it is cleared and duly authorized by the NFMC.

“Entities that already have such installations must hand them over to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and arrange on how to collaborate with the Ministry to achieve their objectives. Refusal to declare and handover such equipment or systems constitute security risk to the nation and may therefore attract severe sanctions and possible prosecution. 

“The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy will continue to support the development of Nigeria’s digital economy in a safe and sustainable way”, the statement reads.

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TECHDIGEST – The federal government has officially handed over the spectrum allocation for Fifth Generation (5G) deployment in the country to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

A statement by the director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Pantami, presented the official document on the 3.5GHz spectrum allocation to the Commission in Abuja on Thursday.

The 5G spectrum allocation document was received by Prof. Adeolu Akande, chairman of, NCC Board of Commissioners, and Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, commission’s executive vice-chairman/CEO on behalf of the Commission.

The event also witnessed the public presentation of the National Policy on 5G Networks, a document earlier launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2022.

Pantami, who is also chairman of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), commended the NCC leadership for ‘a transparent, fair and credible 3.5GHz spectrum auction’ conducted on December 13, 2021

He stated that the NFMC has the responsibility for managing the allocation of commercial and non-commercial spectrum resources in the country while the NCC is facilitating the deployment of spectrum in the country.

He said the Council decided to allocate the assigned spectrum for the 5G network to the NCC to enable it to assign the same to the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction.

Pantami also stated that the 5G network, when deployed, will bring a lot of benefits and opportunities that will engender accelerated growth and smart living in the country.

He asserted that the technology will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility, and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.

This is coming barely a week before the deadline set by the NCC for the payment of the spectrum fees by the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction.

Earlier in his remarks, Akande appreciated the Minister for his efforts in ensuring that every clog that could hinder the successful deployment of 5G services are addressed, thus paving the way for mutual understanding and trust among all stakeholders to ensure that the derivable benefits of the new technology are harnessed timely for the nation’s socio-economic development.

He said the effective implementation of the National Policy on 5G, which the Commission is driving, will help in the actualization of the national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, as well as other sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital culture.

The EVC of NCC, Danbatta, while expressing appreciation to the Minister and all stakeholders for the role played in the emerging 5G network policy implementation initiatives, said the collective efforts of the private sector and government support will make deployment of 5G network transform every aspect of the nation’s economy.

Recalling the diligence that attended the implementation of the 5G policy by the NCC since the process started in 2019, Danbatta said Nigeria had taken proactive and meticulous steps to be among the leading players in the global digital economy.

“We have been meticulous all the way in our 5G deployment journey, from trial across selected states in the country, to review and stakeholder engagement, to approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, and up to the official launch of the national policy on 5G network by the President.

“Now we have the official allocation of the spectrum to the NCC for onward assignments to the winners. So, the coast is clear for the country to assign the specific reference in the spectrum to the winners, upon announcement of payments,” Danbatta said.

Meanwhile, stakeholders and dignitaries at the event commended Danbatta for ensuring a sterling record of transparency and accountability in the sale of the 3.5GHz Spectrum Band allocated for the deployment of the 5G network in Nigeria.

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TECHDIGEST – The Federal Government has approved a national policy on 5G networks for Nigeria’s digital economy.

This was following a presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, during a Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Minister’s Technical Assistant on Information Technology, Dr Femi Adeluyi, revealed that the implementation of the national policy is with immediate effect.

According to the statement, “The national policy has been developed over a period of two years, due to the need for extensive stakeholder engagement and the need to ensure adequate public awareness and sensitisation. The stakeholder engagement was thorough and multi-sectoral in nature. It also took into account the report of the 3-month 5G trials that commenced on the 25th of November 2019. The report critically reviewed and studied the health and security implications of deploying 5G in Nigeria.

“Leading international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an organ of the United Nations, have confirmed that the deployment of 5G networks leave no adverse health effect and are safe. 5G networks offer significant advantages over the current technologies. Some of its advantages include much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility. Several countries have already commenced the deployment of 5G and are enjoying its benefits. These countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, South Africa and Lesotho, to mention but a few.

“The National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), chaired by Minister Pantami, will soon release spectrum to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) that meet all the required conditions.

“The NCC, as the regulator of the telecommunications sector, will continue engaging stakeholders with a view to developing the regulatory instruments required for the successful deployment of the technology in Nigeria.”

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TECHDIGEST – Following the statement by Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim​​ Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, revealing the Federal Government’s position on the deployment of 5G networks in Nigeria, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said that the Commission is ready for the implementation of the government’s decision.

The EVC also lauded the thriving healthy competition in the telecommunications industry, which he said has driven down the prices of data in the country.

Fielding questions from Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, the newly posted permanent secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, during a presentation today in Abuja the NCC boss observed that the Commission as a Federal agency has always aligned its position and plan with the Federal Government.

“On the 5G, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has spoken about the Federal Government’s position to deploy as soon as possible. Our state of readiness is very high. There’s an auction committee for 5G with a deployment plan ready. As you know, without a plan you cannot have a successful deployment.”

“All we are asking is additional spectrum to be allocated by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC). Of course some of these spectrums are ready but we have to get the Federal Government’s approval to go ahead with the auctions,” he explained.

The EVC’s presentation touched on the enabling laws and mandates of the Commission, its structure as well his scorecards among others.

Intimating the new Permanent Secretary on the forthcoming book launch of the Commission scheduled to take place next month, the EVC noted that the book, which is technical in nature, will provide more insight into the workings of NCC under his watch.

“I have spoken about the first Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), comprising 8 agenda items. The SVP has come to the end and we have written a book providing documented progress we have made while implementing it. I am pleased to inform you that the book will be unveiled on 7th September, 2021,” he disclosed.

While commending Dr. Pantami for his efforts toward resolving some of the perennial challenges in the industry especially the Right of Way (RoW) charges, Danbatta urged governments at every level in Nigeria to respect the resolution of the National Economic Council on the harmonized RoW charges, to enable the industry to continue to grow and prosper.

“The Commission will continue to put in its best in the discharge of its mandate, especially in facilitating the deployment of broadband infrastructure, which is central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and national development.”

“It’s our belief also that the communications industry, under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, will experience more quantum leap and retain its current flagship role in the telecommunication space,” Danbatta pointed out.

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