Following the Federal Government’s approval for the deployment of the Fifth Generation Network, otherwise called 5G in Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to commence the implementation of the 5G network.
A statement issued by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs of NCC said following the approval, the Minister directed the Commission to commence immediate implementation of the 5G plan for the country.
The statement said that the roll-out of the 5G will be carried out in phases beginning with major cities in the country “where there is need for high quality broadband,” the Honourable Minister has said.
Recalled that controversies have trailed the introduction of 5G network, with unsubstantiated information making the rounds, alleging that the deployment of 5G network holds negative health implications for the masses.
To clear the doubts of many concerned Nigerians, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on 25th of February, 2021, through its joint Committee on Communications, Science & Technology, ICT& Cyber Crimes, as well as Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases held an investigative public hearing on the status of 5G Network in Nigeria and its technological impact on Nigerian Citizens.
At the hearing, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Pantami declared that 5G cannot cause any health challenge for people, emphasising that, if 5G network has any health implication, he should be the first casualty.
Accordingly, the statement by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde hinted that the approval of the 5G by FEC is a major boost to Nigeria’s promising 5G Plan, which has the objectives of ensuring efficient assignment of spectrum for 5G deployment, creating an enabling environment for investment in the telecom industry, ensuring effective deployment of 5G to cover major urban cities by 2025, among others.
As part of the first step, the statement said NCC will publish an implementation roadmap for the deployment of 5G across the country with service roll-out obligations. In addition, the Commission has been directed to commence the development of relevant regulatory instruments to address issues related to health, safety and others to drive effective implementation of the roll-out of 5G by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
In addition, NCC said the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, will, in no distant time, release the 5G Spectrum to the NCC for auction to MNOs that will need the spectrum for 5G deployment.
The Minister appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, the entire FEC members, the National Assembly, as well as other industry stakeholders for their roles and contributions in the journey that culminated in the approval of the 5G implementation for the country.
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