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Tag: NCC

  • How NCC is accelerating digital inclusion in Nigeria – Danbatta

    How NCC is accelerating digital inclusion in Nigeria – Danbatta

    The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has shared experiences on how the telecoms regulatory agency is accelerating digital inclusion in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof. Danbatta shared the experiences while receiving a delegation from Autoridade Reguladora Nacional (ARN), the telecom national regulatory authority of Guinea-Bissau in Abuja recently.

    The NCC boss highlighted some of the regulatory models, approaches and best practices being implemented by the Commission in promoting a stable telecoms sector in the country.

    A delegation of ARN were on a week-long benchmarking visit to the NCC in Abuja on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 to gain insights into NCC’s regulatory template as part of an exchange to build stronger bilateral relations with the Commission in the area of telecommunications regulation.

    According to Danbatta, who is also the Chairman of the West African Telecommunication Regulatory Assembly (WATRA), the NCC has been recognised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as Africa’s foremost regulatory organisation and has over the years received regulators from across Africa and beyond whose mission is to understudy the Commission.

    He recalled the strong support to Nigeria by Guinea Bissau during the recently concluded election for the position of Executive Secretary of WATRA and the Chairmanship of the regional body, noting that the benchmarking visit underscores the cordial relationship, mutual cooperation and collaboration between both countries.

    “The 16 members of the regional organization share a common vision in ensuring that the citizens are not digitally excluded and are cooperating to ensure that access to information and communication technology services are not only ubiquitous, but that they are available and affordable through effective national and regional policies”, Danbatta said.

    The EVC pointed out that the NCC has through the implementation of various policy initiatives, particularly the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) improved access to broadband for over 80 million Nigerians and targets the provision of Point of Broadband Access (PoA) in all the 774 local government areas (LGAs) of the country within the plan period.

    Danbatta stated that though challenges remain in the process, he observed that NCC is committed to addressing such challenges as Right of Way (RoW) issue, multiple taxation, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, among others, confronting the licensees as they roll out services.

    To further drive digital inclusion, Danbatta said the Commission carried out a study to determine areas where there are access gaps in the country.

    “We identified 217 clusters of access gaps and today, we have ensured more Nigerians are digitally-included by reducing the number of access gaps to 114 currently, while more measures are being taken to further reduce the access gaps, thereby deepening digital inclusion,” the NCC boss said.

    Through NCC’s various regulatory efforts, Danbatta said: “Nigeria’s telecoms sector had reached an all-time-high, basic internet subscription of 154 million; over 87 million broadband subscriptions, representing 45.93 per cent broadband penetration; over 207 million voice subscriptions with teledensity standing at 108.94 per cent as at October, 2020.”

    Meanwhile, Danbatta, as WATRA Chairman, has assured of ongoing plans for the Executive Secretary of WATRA, Aliu Aboki, to visit the 16 member countries of the Assembly for the purposes of interacting and engaging with the member countries in order to build a common front to galvanise the development of the telecommunications ecosystem in the West African sub-region.

    “So, we hope this level of collaboration at the level of WATRA, will be strengthened, so that together, we can act in a manner that other parts of Africa can be able to copy from us. It is an excellent regulatory model that we are working together and I solicit your support and that of other member countries in making the visit of the 16 member countries by the Executive Secretary a huge success,” Danbatta urged the delegation.

    While expressing the desire to reciprocate the visit, the EVC particularly appreciated the Guinea Bissau’s delegation for the visit and expressed the hope that their expectations for the benchmarking programme have been met as they take away some key ideas and integrate same into the regulation of their country’s communications industry.

  • IMEI issue: NCC says phone tracking ID will be auto captured without qualms

    IMEI issue: NCC says phone tracking ID will be auto captured without qualms

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said Nigerians are not required to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of their phones.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NCC as saying it’s system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.

    Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs made this known on Friday in a statement obtained by this media platform.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to several media publications to the effect that the Commission will require Nigerians to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July, 2021.

    “At no time did the Commission issue a Statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so.

    “The reports in question have emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website.

    “It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Device Management System (DMS). The DMS will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks.

    “The system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.

    “The general public is advised to disregard the said publications, which have created the erroneous impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks”.

  • We need IMEI of every phone in Nigeria – NCC

    We need IMEI of every phone in Nigeria – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed it to deploy a Device Management System, which entails keeping a repository of all mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and owners of such devices in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NCC made this known in the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration, stressing that President Buhari had directed that the Device Management System be implemented by July.

    According to the NCC, this is with the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices.

    The NCC stated that one of the means to achieve the aim is through the deployment of Device Management System (DMS), but was yet to reveal the modality to collect the IMEI of every phone in the country.

    When implemented, the NCC stated that mobile phone technicians will be required to check phones’ IMEIs and ensure they have not been reported as stolen or illegal before they render their technical services.

    “The implementation of a Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) otherwise known as Device Management System (DMS) will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and owners of such devices.

    “IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers. The purpose is to ensure that such devices do not work even if different SIM Cards are inserted in those devices.

    “DMS will also provide access to all operators to cross-check the IMEIs and their status before allowing a device to become active on their network.

    “Furthermore, registered mobile phone technicians will also be provided with an interface to check IMEIs and ensure it has not been reported as stolen or illegal before they render their technical services.

    “To achieve this, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would be responsible for the implementation and management of the DMS to achieve the policy objectives.

    “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months,” the NCC stated in the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration that was published on 11 May 2021.

    The objectives of implementing the DMS, the NCC stated, include: to register and capture the IMEIs of all mobile phones and other smart devices on the DMS which will serve as a repository for sharing data of stolen devices across all networks; to ensure all un-registered devices do not work in any of the Networks in Nigeria; and to ensure every reported IMEIs for stolen and illegal mobile phones and other smart devices are blacklisted and shared with all operators across all networks.

    Other objectives of implementing the DMS are to mitigate Mobile Phone theft and protect Nigerians from been attacked to snatch their mobile phones and other smart devices; to blacklist and render all stolen Mobile Phones and other Smart Devices valueless in the Nigerian Mobile Phones Market; to ease the use of mobile phones and other smart devices in all public places without fear of been attacked by mobile phone snatchers; to facilitate the use of digital technology solutions to address key issues bothering Nigerians in the Tele communication Sector; and to facilitate the implementation of Device Management System in Nigeria in accordance with best global practice.

    Meanwhile, the NCC also stated in the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration that uniform Software Application, Software Development Kit (SDK) with device location tracking capabilities would be deployed on all SIM Reg Terminals.

    The NCC stated this as part of a robust SIM Identity Management Solution that would be deployed for effective implementation of the Federal Government Directive on Mandatory Use of National Identification Number (NIN) and to reduce incidence of fraudulently registered SIMs (pre-registered SIMs) to the barest minimum.

    Some other key features of the proposed SIM Identity Management Solution are real time monitoring and authorization of SIM Registration and SIM Replacement transactions in accordance with the NIN policy; collation and linkage of registered SIMs on all networks to users NIN; and monitoring and Management of data capture devices (including identities of SIM Registration Agents) with capabilities to disable and blacklist devices as well as Dealers/Agents found to be carrying out spurious SIM Registration and SIM Swap transactions.

  • Nigerians to submit phone IDs in three months – NCC

    Nigerians to submit phone IDs in three months – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July.

    The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

    The NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A portion of the policy said, “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.”

    The NCC said, “With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.

    “The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.

    “IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”

    The IMEI number is the mobile phone’s fingerprint. It is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.

    According to an expert that helps the Nigerian Police track stolen phones, who asked for anonymity, said, “The IMEI of a phone allows us to track the phone.

    “It allows us to track the phone’s information, people the phone calls each day and the house address of the people that call on the phone.”

    The expert added, “I can’t disclose how the IMEI of a phone works. It is sensitive information. Leaking the secret helps the people stealing the phone bypass the information.

    “Some people already try to change the IMEI of stolen phones, but we know what to do to get the original one.”

    With this move, the NCC will have the IMEI numbers, NIN, and mobile numbers of every Nigerian.

  • NCC resolves 99.2% of telecom consumer complaints in Q1 2021

    NCC resolves 99.2% of telecom consumer complaints in Q1 2021

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has resolved 99.2 per cent of service-related complaints received from telecom consumers across the major network operators in Q1, 2021.

    According to the Q1, 2021 Report on Complaint Management issued by the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Commission, a total of 3,019 consumer complaints were received from four complaint channels established by the Commission as compared to 2,854 complaints received in the Q1, 2020.

    The consumer complaint channels include the Commission’s Contact Centre, through which the toll-free number 622 is managed, NCC Consumer Portal, NCC social media platforms and written complaints.

    Of the 3,019 consumer complaints, 2,995 consumer complaints, representing 99.2 per cent, were successfully resolved while only 24, representing 0.8 per cent, which were escalated to service providers, are pending resolution from the respective service providers in line with the revised Consumer Complaint/Service Level Agreement (CC/SLA) of 2019.

    A breakdown of the consumer complaints received within the period under review shows that 2,759 (91.4 per cent) came through the NCC Contact Centre; 188 (6.2 per cent) were received via the NCC Consumer Portal; 50 (1.7 per cent) complaints came to the Commission through its various social media platforms, while 22 (0.7 per cent) were written complaints.

    With respect to breakdown by service providers’ customers, 1,261 (51.8 per cent) of the total complaints were lodged by MTN customers, 973 representing 32.2 per cent relate to Airtel subscribers, 549 (18.2 per cent) were accounted for by Globacom subscribers; 179 (5.9 per cent) by 9Mobile customers, while the remaining 52 complaints came from customers of other licensees.

    On a month-on-month basis, 971 complaints were received in January, 1,039 in February and 1,009 in March. The report also shows that issues related to billings, quality of service/experience for voice as well as quality of service/experience for data were the three topmost complaint types from telecom consumers in the period under review.

    Commenting on the report, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said NCC, as a consumer-centric telecoms regulator, will continue to explore new initiatives to strengthen the existing consumer complaints management process while ensuring prompt and satisfactory resolution of all complaints.

    He urged the consumers to continue to take advantage of the various channels made available by the Commission, including the 622 toll-free consumer complaints line, the Commission’s consumer web portal on its website and other social media channels to promptly lodge their complaints in the event of service dissatisfaction.

    “NCC’s actions in this regard are in line with its mandate to protect and defend the rights and interests of the consumer, and to give concrete expression to its faith in the consumer as the lifeblood of the telecoms sector,” Danbatta said.

    Expressing satisfaction with the report, Danbatta emphasised that the Commission will remain committed, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to continually improve quality of service both for voice and data services, assuring consumers of NCC’s readiness to always defend their rights and interests.

  • SpaceX signs deal with Google for global high-speed Internet connectivity

    SpaceX signs deal with Google for global high-speed Internet connectivity

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Thursday signed a deal with Internet giant, Google to provide high-speed broadband internet connectivity around the world.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the deal is to deliver data, cloud services, and applications, leveraging Starlink’s ability to provide high-speed broadband internet.

    Under the deal, SpaceX will locate Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, providing businesses with seamless, secure access to the cloud and Internet with Google Cloud infrastructure

    This will enable secure, low-latency, and reliable delivery of data from more than 1,500 Starlink satellites launched to orbit to-date to locations at the network edge via Google Cloud.

    Google Cloud’s high-capacity private network will support the delivery of Starlink’s global satellite internet service, bringing businesses and consumers seamless connectivity to the cloud and Internet, and enabling the delivery of critical enterprise applications to virtually any location.

    Organizations with broad footprints, like public sector agencies, businesses with presences at the network edge, or those operating in rural or remote areas, often require access to applications running in the cloud, or to cloud services like analytics, artificial intelligence, or machine learning.

    Connectivity from Starlink’s constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites provides a path for these organizations to deliver data and applications to teams distributed across countries and continents, quickly and securely.

    “Applications and services running in the cloud can be transformative for organizations, whether they’re operating in a highly networked or remote environment,” said Urs Hölzle, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure at Google Cloud.

    “We are delighted to partner with SpaceX to ensure that organizations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running.”

    “Combining Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google’s infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect,” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell.

    “We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world.”

    This new capability, delivered by Google Cloud and Starlink to enterprise customers, is expected to be available in the second half of 2021.

    Recall that the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportations services company had identified Nigeria as a critical market for its business.

    A delegation from the company was in the country recently, and held a meeting with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    SpaceX is in the process of launching a low-earth orbiting (LOE) constellation of satellites to provide low latency, high bandwidths Internet to all corners of the globe and has identified Nigeria as a critical market.

    SpaceX has been in discussion with NCC virtually over the past several months to begin the process of pursuing all necessary licenses to bring Starlink, its satellite-based broadband services to Nigeria.

    Having made substantial progress in the discussion, the Commission granted SpaceX’s request for a face-to-face discussion to gain better insights on the prospects of their proposal.

    Led by SpaceX’s Starlink Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight and supported by the company’s consultant, Levin Born, the company provided an overview of its plans, expectations, licensing requests and deployment phases during the meeting.

    After the presentation by the SpaceX team, the NCC emphasised that in light of disruption in the technology world, it is keen on balancing healthy competition with entry of disruptive technologies to ensure sustainable telecoms industry growth and development in Nigeria.

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, stated this, represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska.

    He said NCC will work on necessary modalities to ensure that it balances the need for healthy competition vis-a-vis the entry of new technologies, in order to protect all industry stakeholders.

    “As the regulator of a highly dynamic sector in Nigeria, the Commission is conscious of the need to ensure that our regulatory actions are anchored on national interest.

    “We have listened to your presentation and we will review it vis-à-vis our regulatory direction of ensuring effective and a sustainable telecoms ecosystem where a licensee’s operational model does not dampen healthy competition among other licensees,” Maska told the SpaceX delegation.

    Maska further stated that the Commission is interested in making necessary regulatory efforts to drive the coverage of rural, unserved and underserved areas of the country through the accomplishments of the lofty targets contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025.

    He noted that the plan’s target of 70 per cent broadband penetration target, covering 90 per cent of the population by 2025 is also in line with government expectations in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2010-2030.

  • Elon Musk’s SpaceX eyes Nigeria as critical market for business

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX eyes Nigeria as critical market for business

    American aerospace manufacturer and space transportations services company, SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk has identified Nigeria as a critical market for its business.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a delegation from the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportations services company were in the country on Thursday, held a meeting and made a presentation to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    SpaceX is in the process of launching a low-earth orbiting (LOE) constellation of satellites to provide low latency, high bandwidths Internet to all corners of the globe and has identified Nigeria as a critical market.

    SpaceX has been in discussion with NCC virtually over the past several months to begin the process of pursuing all necessary licenses to bring Starlink, its satellite-based broadband services to Nigeria.

    Having made substantial progress in the discussion, the Commission granted SpaceX’s request for a face-to-face discussion to gain better insights on the prospects of their proposal.

    Led by SpaceX’s Starlink Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight and supported by the company’s consultant, Levin Born, the company provided an overview of its plans, expectations, licensing requests and deployment phases during the meeting.

    After the presentation by the SpaceX team, the NCC emphasised that in light of disruption in the technology world, it is keen on balancing healthy competition with entry of disruptive technologies to ensure sustainable telecoms industry growth and development in Nigeria.

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, stated this, represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska.

    He said NCC will work on necessary modalities to ensure that it balances the need for healthy competition vis-a-vis the entry of new technologies, in order to protect all industry stakeholders.

    “As the regulator of a highly dynamic sector in Nigeria, the Commission is conscious of the need to ensure that our regulatory actions are anchored on national interest.

    “We have listened to your presentation and we will review it vis-à-vis our regulatory direction of ensuring effective and a sustainable telecoms ecosystem where a licensee’s operational model does not dampen healthy competition among other licensees,” Maska told the SpaceX delegation.

    Maska further stated that the Commission is interested in making necessary regulatory efforts to drive the coverage of rural, unserved and underserved areas of the country through the accomplishments of the lofty targets contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025.

    He noted that the plan’s target of 70 per cent broadband penetration target, covering 90 per cent of the population by 2025 is also in line with government expectations in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2010-2030.

    Other Senior Management staff of the Commission, at the briefing include the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu; Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Mohammed Babajika; Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil; Director, New Media and Information Security, Dr. Haru Alhassan and Director, Spectrum Administration, Oluwatoyin Asaju, among others.

    Section 70 (2) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, empowers the Commission to regulate the provision and use of all satellite communications services and networks, in whole or in part within Nigeria or on a ship or aircraft registered in Nigeria.

    This is for the purpose of ensuring a well-developed and organised satellite communications market with appropriate legal framework that meets international best practices, encourages innovation, promotes competition and guarantees public safety in the rendering of commercial satellite services.

  • NCC warns Nigerians on dangers of sharing SIM cards, phones

    NCC warns Nigerians on dangers of sharing SIM cards, phones

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Thursday warned Nigerians against sharing their phones, National Identity Number (NIN) and SIM cards with others because of the risks involved.

    The Commission maintained that anybody caught in the act would be held liable for any crime committed with such sensitive information.

    Its Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr. Efeosa Edehen, sounded the warnings at Garki International Market, Abuja, during a consumer conversation event organised by the NCC.

    The event aimed at sensitising telecom consumers had the theme, “Know your rights and obligations as a telecom consumer”.

    Edehen warned that Nigerians must be extremely careful with their devices so they don’t fall into the hands of wrong people who would use them to commit crime and later it would be traced to the owner of the device through the NIN or SIM card.

    He said: “Do not help other people to link their SIM cards with your NIN. Handle your phone with care, be careful how you give your phones to other people to make calls, send texts, or use social media.

    “Your phone carries your identity and therefore should be protected and always be with you.

    “Note that you will be responsible for whatever wrong/offence someone else committed while using your SIM card(s). So, be very vigilant.”

    “As a citizen, it is very important and necessary to register for National Identity Number (NIN) and to ensure your NIN is linked to your SIM cards,” Edehen added.

    He said: “Consumers have the right to receive clear and complete terms and conditions for service agreement and disclosures of price for goods and services, and to affirmatively accept all terms and conditions before being charged for services. They have the right to be protected against fraudulent, misleading and deceitful information or advertisement or labelling.”

  • NCC awaits FG’s final decision to deploy 5G across Nigeria

    NCC awaits FG’s final decision to deploy 5G across Nigeria

    The Nigerian Communications Commission is awaiting the Federal Government’s final decision on the deployment of the 5th Generation (5G) mobile network.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), made this known at signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) on clearing of C-band for deployment of 5G services on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that all the issues associated with the safety of the technology had been adequately addressed in the country.

    “First of all, issues associated with the safety of this technology have been adequately addressed. Nigerians have been sensitised on the safety of this technology with regards to health the security dimension.

    “We have gone to the government and very soon they will come up with a statement on the date for the deployment of 5G services because the policy is equally ready.

    “So the information of the state of readiness as we can see is satisfactory. We have the policy, we have the resource for the deployment of 5G services in the country.

    “We have mobile network operators that are willing to bid for the available spectrum that will be used for the deployment of this subs to Nigerians. So our state of readiness is really high indeed,” he said.

    The EVC intimated that the next step was for the spectrum to be allocated to the NCC by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), assuring that government would give approval for the utilisation of the spectrum to deploy 5G services in the country.

    “Well the next step is for the spectrum in question to be allocated to the NCC by the National Frequency Management Council which has the honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy as chair.

    “The minister is aware about this signing of the MOU, he has given his blessing and therefore we are not envisaging any problem at the level of the national frequency Management Council.

    “We are assured of getting the approval for the utilisation of the spectrum to deploy 5G services in the country,” he said.

    Speaking further, he said that the 5G, would build on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speeds, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.

    “We are glad that the Management of NigComSat and NCC have taken a bold step in the right direction to release contagious quantum of Spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for early deployment of 5G.

    Danbatta, however, said that the 3.4 GHz -3.9GHz arel the best frequency allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

    He said that the C-band was most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70 per cent of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band.

    He said this was the importance of the spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria and it cannot be over emphasised.

    According to him, amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity.

    The two agencies have been in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of Satellite service offering because end user terminal are cheaper there,

    While leaving the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz–9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use.

    The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G Spectrum.”

    “For optimal 5G service performance, an average of contiguous 100 MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an Operator.

    “However in Nigeria, only 120 MHz of the band (3.4 – 3.52) GHz is available for mobile services while the remaining 680 MHz (3.52 – 4.2) GHz of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites”.

    Dr Abimbola Alale, Director/General, NIGCOMSAT, appreciated all stakeholders that made the MoU a reality and added that she cannot thank them enough for their efforts.

  • BREAKING: NCC signs MoU for deployment of 5G services across Nigeria

    BREAKING: NCC signs MoU for deployment of 5G services across Nigeria

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to begin the deployment of 5G services across Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports 5G is a fifth generation of mobile technology, which is an improvement of today’s 4G technology with enhanced capabilities.

    5G technology provides the platform for new and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to improve the way we live and work.

    The NCC signed the MoU with Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited to use the C-Band Spectrum for deployment of 5G services in the country.

    Recall that the NCC undertook three months 5G trials in selected locations in Nigeria in November 2019.

    The trial, among others, was to study and observe health or security challenges the 5G network might present.

    “The importance of this Spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized.

    “The Commission initiated negotiation with NIGCOMSAT who in our estimate could make some adjustments to its satellite operation and release part of its Spectrum holding in the band to facilitate the deployment of 5G in Nigeria.

    “The impact of this agreement knows no bounds and will not only strengthen the relationship between both agencies but would also go a long way in making a positive impact on the Nigerian economy.

    “The C-band is most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70% of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band.

    “Amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity.

    “This historic event between the NIGCOMSAT and NCC will facilitate the release of contiguous bandwidth in one of the most suitable Frequency Spectrum band(s) for early deployment of 5G Network services in the largest market in sub-Saharan Africa,” NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof Umar Danbatta said at the MoU signing ceremony.