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Tag: NCC

  • Controversy rocks auction of spectrum band for 5G rollout in Nigeria

    Controversy rocks auction of spectrum band for 5G rollout in Nigeria

    The auction of spectrum for the rollout of fifth generation (5G) networks in Nigeria is presently enmeshed in a controversy after a report emerged that Nigeria’s telecoms regulators shifted grounds to accommodate some bidders.

    Although, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s telecoms regulators has clarified the issue, the report had it that the Commission was forced to move deadline for the submission of the bid and payment of the ten percent fee of $20 million after it emerged that only MTN Nigeria had complied with the requirement.

    Recall that the NCC announced a bid for the 3.5Ghz spectrum band for the rollout of 5G network in the country, and set the deadline for the submission of bids for Wednesday, November 24, 2021. However, the telecoms regulators moved the deadline from Wednesday, November 24, 2021 to Monday, November 29, 2021.

    On December 1, 2021, the Commission announced that at the close of the bid submission date of November 29, 2021, three companies, namely MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications Ltd and Airtel Networks Ltd had successfully submitted their bids in line with the requirements of the Information Memorandum (IM).

    Meanwhile, the NCC in a statement released by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, denied ever shifting grounds to accommodate bidders, stressing that the deadline was shifted following concerns expressed by industry stakeholders and potential bidders, including MTN.

    Adinde in the statement cited the strike by air traffic controllers of November 23, 2021, just a day before the deadline for the submission of bids, which disrupted flights operations in Lagos as part of reasons why the deadline was shifted, stressing that even MTN on November 23, 2021 communicated to the Commission via email, asserting its concerns about the air traffic controllers’ strike and how it is likely to impede timely submission of their bid.

    The Commission further stressed that the Business Day report is replete with misinformation, which the NCC said is capable of misleading industry stakeholders, the general public and undermining the integrity of the ongoing process for the auction of the 5G spectrum. The Commission also clarified that all three bidders are existing licensees of the Commission under different license categories and

    “For instance, the publication alleged that Mafab Communications is a relatively unknown operator in the industry, suggesting that it was not eligible to bid for the spectrum. The IM has clearly stipulated that new entrants into the industry can participate in the bid and if they are successful, the Commission will issue the entity an operating license in line with the extant provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and its licensing regulations,” the statement reads in part.

    The statement adds: “It is pertinent to state that the Nigerian Communications Commission maintains an unimpeachable record and reputation based on precedents of open and transparent spectrum auctions over the years, which had earned it both local and international recognition.

    “The Commission is consistently guided by its well-established principles of fairness, firmness and forthrightness and wishes to assure Nigerians that it is determined to ensure the successful implementation of the 5G Auction spectrum, which is set to take place on December 13, 2021”.

  • 5G rollout: NCC qualifies 3 bidders for 3.5Ghz spectrum auction

    5G rollout: NCC qualifies 3 bidders for 3.5Ghz spectrum auction

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that three telecoms companies have qualified as approved bidders of the forthcoming 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum auction.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 3.5Ghz spectrum band is the band to be used for the deployment of Fifth generation (5G) networks in Nigeria.

    According to a statement by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, the qualified bidders are MTN Nigeria Plc., Mafab Communications Limited and Airtel Networks Limited.

    Adinde stated that the bidders have met the criteria for participation in the licensing process of 3.5Ghz spectrum, including payment of the stipulated Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as outlined in the Information Memorandum (IM).

    “Consequently, the stage is now set for the three companies to participate in the Main Auction as well as in the mandatory Mock Auction process, which will come as a precursor to the Main Auction,” Adinde stated.

    TNG reports the NCC has also reaffirmed the dates for the conduct of both the mock auction and the main auction.

    The mock auction is scheduled to hold on Friday, December 10, 2021 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 11:00 a.m., while the main auction will hold on Monday, December 13, 2021 at the same venue and same time.

  • NCC boss identifies gap in deployment of 5G in Africa

    NCC boss identifies gap in deployment of 5G in Africa

    Prof. Umaru Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has identified a gap in the deployment of 5G technology in Africa.

    The new technology, which is in the bid stage in Nigeria, Danbatta said will rely heavily on 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE).

    Using Nigeria as a case study, the NCC boss noted that the country’s network infrastructure was 80% wireless and that quite a few percentage of the infrastructure was 4G LTE.

    He, therefore, urged African countries to invest in the right infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of 5G services.

    Danbatta made the appeal during an online tech policy talk organised by Qualcomm in partnership with Forum Global.

    The theme of the event was “Unlocking the Potential of 5G in African continent.”

    He said the key to the success of 5G deployment was infrastructure, noting that African countries would do well by investing in the right infrastructure to facilitate it.

    “As we are all aware, 5G services will initially have to rely on the 4G LTE for the provision of enhanced broadband services.

    “We do not have the infrastructure in place yet, this services will entail deployment of additional infrastructure if we are going to move to the usage of low latency as well as machine-to-machine services,” he said .

    Speaking on decisions made on 5G, Danbatta said the most important step that the Nigerian government took was unveiling the 5G deployment policy.

    He noted that it was the first time the Nigerian government was embedded in a policy in service of the country, adding that normally what NCC does was to develop the regulatory framework.

    Danbatta said that the policy had been subjected to stakeholder consultation because that was the rule in NCC when a new technology was to be deployed in the country.

    “We normally subject the pros and cons of the technology to massive stakeholder consultations in order to get the buy in of not just critical stakeholders in the industry, but Nigerians in general, ” he said.

    Danbatta said currently, the commission was trying to implement the policy and had identified the spectrum that would be used for the deployment of 5G services.

    He said there were three categories of spectrum, the low band, mid band and the high band.

    Danbatta said that Nigeria would be using the high band spectrum for the deployment of 5G services, specifically 3.5 Gigahertz up to 16.9 Gigahertz.

    Also, Mr Nkateko Nyoka, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Vodacom Group, said that in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphsa had spoken severally on the need to build smart cities.

    According to him, South Africa actually have some smart cities but the country has both elements of a developed and under developed economy.

    Nyoka added that the concern of having both elements stretches across many countries in Africa.

    “The reality is that in many of our markets, some of these services are provided by the existing technologies of 3g and 4g.

    “We do accept that 5G will present certain benefits that we have not had before, but there will be issues around access, just like the South African situation of smart cities the challenge for Africa is how do we close the gap.

    “What 5G will present to us is obviously a reduction of latency, but we also need to think of what the general population will benefit from it without creating an unnecessary gap.

    “This unnecessary gap would be between the rich segments of our population and the poor,” Nkateko said.

    He said the introduction of 5G should be targeted at areas like health care and education that everyone could benefit from.

    Mr Lacina Kone, Director-General of Smart Africa, said that the time has come for Africans to start using automated machinery.

    He said that automation would represent cases of digital transformation in the area of our manufacturing sector.

    “If we Africans want to transform our economies, we need to start moving to machine automation and 5G presents a unique opportunity for such services,” Kone said.

  • NCC receives ‘trove of garlands’ in 20 years regulatory excellence

    NCC receives ‘trove of garlands’ in 20 years regulatory excellence

    The trove of garlands for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its role in enhancing digital transformation in Nigeria has swelled with new awards conferred from an array of stakeholders.

    It is two decades since the NCC midwifed the birth of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM), to herald a new era of public communication in Nigeria.

    The new awards were conferred on the Commission and its Management at different fora organised to commemorate 20 years of revolutionary digital communication in Nigeria.

    Besides the serial honour attending the celebrations of two decades of the GSM revolution, the Commission also won awards at annual events organised by strategic stakeholders, including, the Nigerian telecom sector’s equivalent of Oscars, the Nigeria Tech Innovations & Telecoms Awards (NTITA), 2021.

    At NTITA, NCC received the ‘Outstanding Telecom Regulator of the Year’ award, while its CEO, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman, was honoured with the ‘Telecoms Industry Leader’ award. The event took place in Lagos, on 19th November 2021.

    A week earlier, at another event organised by the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), in collaboration with Digivation Network, the Commission had received, ‘The Premier African Regulator’ award.

    The EVC was also honoured with the ‘Regulatory Excellence Award’, while the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Barrister Adeleke Adewolu, received ‘The Outstanding Digital Impact Personality’ award. The event, tagged 20 Years of Digital Revolution Powered by GSM, took place at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Abuja, on 11th November 2021.

    The same day, at yet another event organised by E-Business Life Magazine at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos to mark the 20 years of the birth of GSM, the NCC also received, ‘Technology Transformer Award’.

    Additionally, just over the weekend, the NCC also received the ‘Regulator of the Year’ award at the New Telegraph Awards 2021, organised at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, on Friday, November 19, 2021.

    Meanwhile, at the event organised at NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, a panel representing shades of stakeholders in the telecom and ICT sector, took a retrospective reflection at the last 20 years of telecom liberalisation under NCC’s supervision. The panelists agreed that there have been irreversible, exponential transformation of the sector with visible impact on all other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    The panelists reminisced on developments in the sector in an inquisitorial manner, asking the audience to measure the dynamism in the telecom sector in terms of digital sophistication and digital literacy in comparison to what it was two decades ago.

    The speakers, one after another, examined in objective contexts, how telecoms service availability, affordability and accessibility have benefited persons of all social strata, especially the disadvantaged segment of the society. The panel also took a stock of the general impact of the digital culture from a historical perspective in order to properly capture the milestones.

    As Nigeria prepares for the launch of the Fifth Generation (5G) networks, the panelists agreed that there will be more benefits to harvest from the emerging technologies. Thus, they urged all stakeholders to heighten education of citizens and especially telecom consumers, in order to halt the misinformation about 5G.

    The discussants also expressed confidence in the ability of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the NCC to rally stakeholders to deepen engagement at all levels and sectors to focus on the implementation of policies to ensure attainment of the set targets.

    Meanwhile, the Director Public Affairs at the Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, commended stakeholders, who gathered at various events where the Commission and its leaders were honoured, for their dedicated solidarity. He also thanked the various stakeholders who recognised the Commission with landmark awards, for the impeccable honours. Adinde stated that such number of awards to NCC in a fortnight testified to the strong collaboration between the Commission and the stakeholders and their conviction that NCC is fulfilling its mandate.

    Adinde particularly told the audience at the E-Business Life forum that the recognitions coming to NCC will further encourage the Commission’s management led by Prof. Umar Danbatta and his dynamic team to do more to expand the frontiers of opportunities of digital economy to enable citizens and other investors to enhance their contributions to Nigeria’s growth and development.

  • Viral Davido’s airtime, data giveaway promo is a scam – NCC warns

    Viral Davido’s airtime, data giveaway promo is a scam – NCC warns

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has sounded a note of warning to telecom services consumers in the country that an airtime and data giveaway promo currently in circulation on social media in the name of David Adedeji Adeleke, widely known as Davido is a scam.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NCC sounded the note of warning in a statement signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs to address the scam.

    Recall that Davido recently raised the sum of N250 million from himself, his friends and fans to mark his birthday. However, in a twist of events, the Nigerian-American music star, songwriter and producer announced that he would donate the money to various orphanage homes across Nigeria.

    Exploiting Davido’s benevolence, a group of scammers rolled out an advertorial titled “Davido Airtime and Data Giveaway”, which went viral, claiming that Davido is “giving out free 5K Airtime and 10GB Internet data of All Networks” to celebrate his birthday.

    In the advertorial, the general public was urged to hurry and get the gift by clicking on the links that supposedly redirect them to network sites, where they will be credited with airtime and data.

    “This is a scam,” the NCC stated, adding that “the adverts are what they are – social engineering rip-offs designed to get people’s MSISDN and other information that fraudsters can use later to defraud unsuspecting telecom consumers and members of the public”.

    TNG reports that in the statement the NCC warned telecom consumers to be cautious and not to let their guards down, stressing that if a promo or an offer seems too good to be true, then it is likely untrue.

    “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has discovered while undertaking online social listening that an ostensibly syndicated group is on the prowl to swindle unsuspecting members of the public, particularly millions of Nigerian telecom consumers, by capitalising on the generosity of David Adedeji Adeleke, widely known as Davido.

    The NCC wishes to advise our teeming telecom consumers to have nothing to do with the advert or any similar bogus enticements.

    “For clarity, the MSISDN is simply the full phone number of a cellphone, in addition to other protocol information. This number is unique and identifies subscribers/owners in a GSM or other mobile networks. Therefore, it suffices to state that any unscrupulous person or unethical hacker can use the number and attendant protocol to undermine the privacy of the real owners of the number through identity theft and other scams.

    “The NCC, therefore, reiterates its earlier warning to telecom consumers to be cautious and not to let their guards down. If a promo or an offer seems too good to be true, then it is likely untrue.

    “The Commission will not rest on its oars in empowering telecom consumers with the requisite information and education in order to protect them from cybercriminals determined to use the telecom platforms to perpetrate frauds,” the statement reads.

  • UNILORIN female student emerges best in NCC essay competition

    UNILORIN female student emerges best in NCC essay competition

    A female student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Miss Esther Oluwabukola Gbeja has emerged as the overall best in a national essay competition organized by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Miss Esther was announced the best among other winners by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta on Tuesday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Prof. Danbatta noted that the national essay competition was the third that the NCC has organized, and that the Commission received close to 2000 entries for the third edition won by Esther.

    He revealed that about 97 higher institutions of learning partook in the competition with the topic: 5G Technology: Opportunities and Challenges.

    Saying that the topic of the competition was timely, Danbatta stated that the NCC was at an important stage in the deployment of 5G technology across the country, stressing that the Commission is now ready to receive bids for 5G spectrum.

    Emphasizing on the deployment of 5G in the country, he reiterated that the Federal Government would gain N75 billion from its spectrum auctioning in 5 coming months.

    The EVC further explained that the auction was software-based, adding that provision had been made for manual auction should the auction software fail during the process.

    He informed that new entrants were allowed to participate in addition to existing licensees, and that only licensees with 100 per cent regulatory approval would be allowed to participate in the auction.

    “The NCC is at the verge of auctioning Spectrum for the provision of 5G technology and we decided to take advantage of the moment by challenging our youth to be innovative and as resourceful as their counterparts in advanced countries. The controversies surrounding COVID-19 and 5G technology are now in the past.

    “I want to reassure you that the economic benefits of 5G to Nigeria post-coronavirus pandemic will be huge, especially as almost all businesses and activities of the government are migrating and offering their services online.

    “5G will enable a new kind of network to Nigerians that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects and devices.

    “Nigeria’s vibrant youth population stands to benefit immensely from the deployment of 5G as it will offer technopreneurs, technology enthusiasts, SMEs and tech-startups to expand and network with other global players on a scale that has never been witnessed before,” he said.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Essay Competition Committee, Mr Edoyemi Ogoh, said that the committee was guided by the commission’s guiding principles of being fair and upright in following the criteria to determine the winners.

    He said that one of the objectives that the commission engaged youths from tertiary institutions across the country was to challenge themselves in the understanding and problem solving imperatives as well as essential new technologies.

    Ogoh noted that NCC was a key stakeholder in the development and growth of the communications sector in the country.

    “The commission recognises the act of innovative thinking in growing the communications industry in Nigeria.

    “The commission engaged the youth to participate in tertiary institutions across the country to challenge themselves in the understanding and problem solving imperatives as well as essential new technologies, which is one of the objectives of the NCC in the essay competition,” he said.

    Esther, who came first spoke on behalf of other participants of the competition, she thanked the NCC and urged Nigerians to understand efforts of the Federal Government on the 5G technology.

    She also called on the NCC to come up with massive awareness creation in collaboration with diverse stakeholders and professionals in the execution of the 5G network across the country.

    TNG reports Nosa Moses Edosa from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) emerged in second place, while Nasiru Abdulkarim from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and Marc-Patrick Efevuriri Efeni from Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology emerged tied in third place in the competition.

    Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of prize money and awards to the winners of the competition. While Esther was presented a cheque of N500,000.00 and awarded a printer and a laptop, Nosa received a cheque of N300,000.00. Nasiru and Efeni, who tied at third place, each received a cheque of N200,000.00.

  • Again, NCC raises alarm of Iranian hacking group targeting African MFAs, telcos, ISPs

    Again, NCC raises alarm of Iranian hacking group targeting African MFAs, telcos, ISPs

    In keeping with its commitment to continuously keep stakeholders in the country’s telecoms sector informed, educated and protected, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has once again notified the public of the existence of another hacking group orchestrating cyberespionage in the African telecoms space.

    An Iranian hacking group known as Lyceum (also known as Hexane, Siamesekitten, or Spirlin) has been reported to be targeting telecoms, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Africa, with upgraded malware in a recent politically motivated attacks oriented in cyberespionage.

    Information about this cyber attack is contained in the latest advisory issued by the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT). The ngCERT rated the probability and damage level of the new malware as high.

    According to the advisory, the hacking group is known to be focused on infiltrating the networks of telecoms companies and ISPs. Between July and October, 2021, Lyceum was implicated in attacks against ISPs and telecoms organisations in Israel, Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia.

    The advanced persistent threat (APT) group has been linked to campaigns that hit Middle Eastern oil and gas companies in the past. Now, the group appears to have expanded its focus to the technology sector. In addition, the APT is responsible for a campaign against an unnamed African government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    By the attackers’ mode of operation, Lyceum’s initial onslaught vectors include credential stuffing and brute-force attacks. So, once a victim’s system is compromised, the attackers conduct surveillance on specific targets. In that mode, Lyceum will attempt to deploy two different kinds of malware: Shark and Milan (known together as James).

    Both malware are backdoors. Shark, a 32-bit executable written in C# and .NET, generates a configuration file for domain name system (DNS) tunneling or Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) C2 communications; whereas Milan – a 32-bit Remote Access Trojan (RAT) retrieves data.

    Both are able to communicate with the group’s command-and-control (C2) servers. The APT maintains a C2 server network that connects to the group’s backdoors, consisting of over 20 domains, including six that were previously not associated with the threat actors.

    According to reports, individual accounts at companies of interest are usually targeted, and then once these accounts are breached, they are used as a springboard to launch spear-phishing attacks against high-profile executives in an organization. The report suggests that not only do these attackers seek out data on subscribers and connected third-party companies, but once compromised, threat actors or their sponsors can also use these industries to surveil individuals of interest.

    However, to guard against this kind of threat, the NCC wishes to re-echo ngCERT reports that multiple layers of security in addition to constant network monitoring is required by telecom companies and ISPs alike to stave off potential attacks.

    Specifically, telecom consumers and the general public are advised to:

    1. Ensure the consistent use of firewalls (software, hardware and cloud firewalls).

    2. Enable a Web Application Firewall to help detect and prevent attacks coming from web applications by inspecting HTTP traffic.

    3. Install Up-to-date antivirus programmes to help detect and prevent a wide range of malware, trojans, and viruses, which APT hackers will use to exploit your system.

    4. Implement the use of Intrusion Prevention Systems that monitors your network.

    5. Create a secure sandboxing environment that allows you to open and run untrusted programs or codes without risking harm to your operating system.

    6. Ensure the use of virtual private network (VPN) to prevent an easy opportunity for APT hackers to gain initial access to your company’s network.

    7. Enable spam and malware protection for your email applications, and educate your employees on how to identify potentially malicious emails.

    For further technical assistance, contact ngCERT on incident@cert.gov.ng

    The NCC, as the operator of the telecom sector’s cyber threat response centre (CSIRT), hereby reiterates its commitment, active surveillance and monitoring of cyber activities in the sector and will always keep stakeholders in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector updated on potential threats within the cyber space. This is to ensure that the networks that deliver essential services are safe, and that telecom consumers are protected from being victims of cyber attacks.

  • 5G deployment: No cause for alarm – NCC boss assures Nigerians

    5G deployment: No cause for alarm – NCC boss assures Nigerians

    …says WHO, ITU confirm it has no health adverse effects on humans

    Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has assured Nigerians that the fifth generation network (5G) is perfectly safe and that it has no effect on humans.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof. Danbatta gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja when he appeared before a joint session of both House and Senate committees on Communication for the defence of the 2022 budget proposal of the NCC.

    Danbatta, who also reported on the performance of the 2021 budget of the Commission, said the NCC tried to sensitise the public and make them embrace 5G technology because it is good for the economy of the country.

    He explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have confirmed that the deployment of the 5G network leaves no adverse health effects on humans.

    TNG reports 5G is the next generation of mobile internet connection and it will enable internet browsing and data download at a faster rate compared to what is presently obtainable.

    Earlier at the meeting, Prof. Danbatta advised that the cost of spectrum should come down to make it affordable for Nigerians.

    The NCC helmsman explained that with the use of radio spectrum, many more devices will be allowed access to the internet at the same time.

    In his response to further questions on cybercrime, the NCC boss stressed that telecommunication operators are secure from any cyber attacks. He said efforts were going to be intensified to enable good patronage by Nigerians.

    Chairman and co-chairman of the joint session, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and Hon. Akeem Adeyemi on behalf of the committee commended NCC for its procurement estimates in the 2022 budget.

    The committee urged the Commission to ensure proper supervision of its intervention projects especially in Ebonyi State.

    It further advised that contractors of these intervention projects should not be paid until work is completed.

  • NCC to auction 5G spectrum in December

    NCC to auction 5G spectrum in December

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially declared that the auction of the 3.5 Gigahertz (3.5 GHz) spectrum for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) technology in Nigeria, will take place on December 13, 2021.

    According to the Information Memorandum (IM) presented by the Commission at a stakeholder engagement forum organised on 5G spectrum in Lagos recently, NCC is adopting Ascending Clock Auction format, which is software-based while a mock auction has been slated for December 10, 2021, as a precursor to the actual auction on December 13, 2021.

    The IM provides information, conditions, obligations, financial implication, timelines and other necessary details on the planned 3.5Ghz spectrum auction.

    The IM also explains the rollout obligations of the would-be eventual winners of the spectrum licence auction, whose reserved price has been pegged at $197.4 million (N75 billion).

    The IM also states that only licensees, who make down payment of 10 per cent of the reserved bid price and with 100 per cent regulatory compliance would be allowed to participate in the auction while licensees with outstanding debts that have secured NCC’s approval for a payment plan will be allowed to participate in the auction.

    According to the IM, the auction comes with a 10-year spectrum licence and a minimum requirement of an operational Universal Access Service Licence (UASL). However, new entrants or licensees without a UASL will be required to obtain a UASL operational license to be qualified for the 5G licence.

    The eventual licensees will have a rollout obligation plan spanning a period of 10 years, beginning from the date of award of the licence. Between the first and second year of the licence, the operators are expected to rollout service in, at least, one state in each geo-political zone.

    From the third to fifth year, they are obligated to cover all the zones. Between six to 10 years, they should cover all the states in the country, according to guidelines set out in the IM.

    Speaking at the forum, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said the Ministry has been working closely with the Commission to ensure that necessary spectrum resources needed for the deployment of 5G network in Nigeria to accelerate the nation’s digital economy space is made available.

    Represented by a Director in the Ministry, who is concurrently the Secretary, National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), Abubakar Ladan, the Minister said the 3.5GHz is the most popular spectrum band used globally by regulators and operators for the deployment of 5G technology, and it seems the only band available in Nigeria for immediate use by operators.

    In his address, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, listed the various steps diligently taken by the Commission that culminated in present status of the 5G deployment plan. He also reeled out data to justify how profitable investment in 5G deployment will be for potential operators and investors in the country.

    According to him, “Nigeria has an estimated population of 214 million, with an average growth rate of 2.6% annually. Approximately 76.46 per cent of the population is under the age of 35. In line with these demographic changes, internet penetration grew from 3 per cent in 2004 to 73.82 per cent as at September, 2021, and broadband penetration increased from less than 10 per cent in 2015 to 40.01 per cent in September, 2021.”

    He said while the global impact of Fourth Generation (4G) technology brought about increase in mobile usage and network performance, 5G technology will leverage on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.

    The Forum was well attended by industry stakeholders, including operators, industry associations and groups, advocacy bodies, and the media.

    The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), among others, called on the government to continue to make the operating environment more conducive for the existing and prospective licensees in the telecom ecosystem, in order to enable Nugeria to fully harness and harvest the derivable benefits of mobile technology in the country.

    The stakeholder engagement forum was organized in keeping with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and NCC’s tradition of consultative regulatory practice.

  • NCC awards N20m grants to 4 innovative tech startups

    NCC awards N20m grants to 4 innovative tech startups

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has awarded N20 million grant to four deserving Nigerian tech startups for their novel digital solutions aimed at curbing insecurity and advancing Internet of Things (IoT) frontier in Nigeria.

    The Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja in his remarks at the grand prize award ceremony for ‘Virtual NCC Internet of Things (IoT) Code Camp and Hackathon 2021’, held in the commission’s headquarters.

    Two startups, namely Clearflow system Hub and Aelaus Engineering teams/Hyech Electronics solutions, focused on IoT (Internet of Things) for kidnapping and banditry.

    The other two startups, Kalibotics and CyberNorth Tech, concentrated on assistive robotics for effective e-waste management.

    The beneficiaries of the second edition of the startups awards got N5 million grant each.

    Danbatta explained that the event was in line with the Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan 2021-2025, and the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP).

    The executive vice chairman was represented by NCC’s Director of New Media and Information Security, Alhasan Haru.

    He said: “Today’s event aligns with the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) 2020, which underpins the need to promote local production, local services, local innovation and the use of local materials.

    “This is in line with the Mandate of the Presidential Executive Order 5 of 2017, on the Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology.

    “The Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan 2021-2025, which captures the need to encourage the development of new technologies and indigenous content, through cutting edge research, to stimulate sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria is demonstrated through this event.

    “In this year’s Hackathon, our goal is to challenge the creativity and harness the innovative prowess of our young digital driven population to develop Smart Solutions.

    “To leverage on emerging technologies in addressing the challenges of Banditry, Kidnapping and e-waste management.”

    Earlier, the NCC Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr Ubale Maska, noted that the event had demonstrated the critical role that the telecommunications sector play in addressing Nigeria’s social and environmental problems with innovative solutions.

    Maska, represented by the Head, Research and Development, NCC, Kelechi Nwokwo, reiterated the commission’s commitment towards continuously supporting innovations for nation building.

    He said that the aim was to develop innovative Internet Of Things (IOT) solutions for combating kidnapping and banditry, and for effective e-waste management in the country.

    “At the close of entry we had 54 proposals from 34 organisations but at the end of the two-stage assessment by the panel of judges, four top startups, two from each thematic areas of Hackathon were selected to pitch.

    “Four final winning digital solutions from indigenous startups,” he said.

    The Chairman of Panel of Judges, Dr Uche Uwaje, said all the entries were deserving winners.

    Responding, one of the winners, the CEO of Clearflow system Hub, Mr Francis Idachaba, said he would put the grant into judicious use and achieve the goal it was meant for.

    Representatives from Security Agencies, telecommunications operators, National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other sister agencies lauded the initiatives.

    Recall that NCC organised the first edition of this event in 2020, during which winners went home with N9 million worth of prizes.