NCC working with NigComSat for 400 MHz prime spectrum deployment

Admin l Sunday, April 04, 2021

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is collaborating with NigComSat to avail 400 MHz of prime spectrum for Next General Network deployment in Nigeria.

Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta who made the revelation  at the virtual structured engagement with key stakeholders in the Nigerian telecoms and IT sector on the New Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 organised by Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) said the commission has also finalized Spectrum  Trading Guidelines.

Speaking through Director, Digital Economy, Dr. Austine Nwaulune, the EVC said collaboration with State Governments has also seen the adoption of the N145/m or outright waiver Right-of-Way (RoW) by six (6) State Governments.

The Executive Vice Chairman, who spoke on the subject, “Aggregating the Potential of the Sub-Sector to Meet the New Broadband Set Target Of 70%” pointed out that the collaboration  needs to be done by the States and Local Governments to ensure full adoption and cascading of the decision for implementation but that the Commission will nevertheless not relent in its effort towards addressing  issue RoW.

“The Commission’s regulatory thrust towards enabling National Roaming, approval of e-SIM and 5G trials have also aggregated the efforts of the industry players towards achieving the set target”, the EVC said.

He revealed that though, there has been a 3% decline in the broadband penetration from a peak of 45.93% in October 2020 to 42.93% in January 2021, which was largely due to the suspension of registration of new SIM cards in December to facilitate smooth linkage and synchronization of the SIM-NIN databases that will not only address some of the security challenges but will help  to determine the truly unique numbers in the country thus further guiding  Nigeria towards achieving the 70% penetration target.

Danbatta told the gathering that the NNBP 2020-2025 has raised the performance bar for the whole telecom industry, stressing that being a document crafted by experts and executives, there is no reason why it cannot be achieved to put Nigeria in a firm pedestal of nations with broadband access.

He assured that the commission shall continue to proactively provide the necessary regulatory interventions which will facilitate the achievement of not only the 70% broadband penetration target but other associated targets as well which will truly transform our economy into a Digital Economy.

He thanked ATCON, the organizers of the event and other insightful events for invitation and partnership with the Commission.