he Federal Government is yet to approve the Spectrum Auction For Fifth Generation (5G) Deployment in Nigeria two months after the committee was inaugurated by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta revealed the development.
Following the Senate investigative hearing which gave the 5G technology a clean bill of health, the NCC in June took a regulatory step by inaugurating a committee to develop the Information Memorandum (IM) for the auction of 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band.
The spectrum band would be used for early deployment of 5G services in the country.
In June, Danbatta, inaugurated the 18-member Committee in Abuja with NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska as Auction Adviser while the Director, Spectrum Administration, NCC, Oluwatoyin Asaju, is the Committee Chairman.
In a statement dated August 25, Danbatta said, “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.”
Danbatta also lauded the thriving healthy competition in the country’s telecommunications industry.
According to him, the competition has driven down the price of data in the country.
“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,” he added.
