Nigeria’s 5G frequency allocation to await ITU approvals

The Nigerian Communications Commission has stepped down the planned allocation of frequency spectrums to operators until they are approved  by the International Telecommunications Union for 5G network services Umar Danbatta executive vice-chairman at NCC disclosed this at a
Stakeholders Consultative Forum in Abuja.

Danbatta, represented by Austin Nwaulune, director of spectrum administration, explained that it was important to suspend the  allocation of the frequency to operators so that there would not be any encumbrance when the frequencies were eventually assigned for 5G services by ITU.

He listed the frequencies affected as 26GHz, 38Ghz and 42Ghz bands.

Danbatta said, “The commission has identified some of the potential frequency bands that may be harmonised for 5G deployment in region one  and therefore suspended the licensing of those frequencies.
“This step will ensure that Nigeria is not caught unawares when those frequency bands are harmonised by standardisation bodies.  Key among  these bands are 26Ghz, 38Ghz and 42Ghz bands,” he further said.

A research conducted by GSMA in 2018 shows that about 5.17 billion people were already mobile in 2017 and it is projected to rise to six billion by 2025, Danbatta said, adding that in Nigeria alone, going by
September statistics, we had about 106 million active internet subscribers.

He also referred to a McKinsey Globaol research which estimated that over 75 billion devices will be connected to the Internet by the year 2025, with global economic contribution ranging from $3.9 to $11.1tn
annually.

“As such, all stakeholders are challenged to help develop smarter and efficient ways of utilising the already limited available resources in order to maximise the gains of these technologies,” he said, and added
that 5G technology was unique, promising and customisable.