Says auction witnessed higher level of openness, transparency
Admin l Thursday, December 16, 2021
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has denied knowledge of any linkage of the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu with Mafab Communications Ltd, one of the two winners of the 3.5Ghz auction for deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria.
Reacting to allegations in online media alleging involvement Tinubu in Mafab Communications, Director Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde said consistent with the Commission’s long-established regulatory culture and tradition, the process leading to the auction of the 5G spectrum was open, fair and transparent in the most, as the public auction followed a rigorous due process, witnessed by a cross-section of stakeholders as observers, including the media, the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as well as civil society groups.
“Mafab Communications Limited is a corporate entity duly licensed by the Commission to conduct telecommunications business”, he said adding that the company is in good regulatory standing with the Commission and currently holds international data access (IDA), inter-connect data exchange (IDE) and Value-Added Service (VAS) licences.
According to him, the Information Memorandum (IM) for the auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum clearly set out eligibility criteria for participation of interested bidders in the auction, which included that new companies could participate in the bid.
Over the years, the NCC, he said has had spectrum auctions and as an independent regulatory agency, has maintained an undisputable reputation of successful auctions based on openness, fairness and transparency, a fact widely acknowledged locally and internationally.
NCC’s auction proceedings, he added conform to international best practice, devoid of any undue influence or interferences whatsoever, and that a higher standard of integrity and openness was emplaced in the 5G auction as the process was, for the first time, witnessed by the public both physically and virtually through a link provided by the Commission on its official website.
He assured Nigerians that, following the successful auction of the 5G spectrum, it is prepared to drive the implementation of the next phase of the deployment of the new technology, in line with the Federal Government’s approved plan, for the benefit of all citizens.
