As controversy rages over the availability of Fifth Generation (5G) services in the country, Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has once again reiterated its earlier clarification that 5G network service has neither been licenced nor deployed in any part of Nigeria.
The Commission described as mischievous, a statement-making the rounds on social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and other sites that the Nigerian telecoms industry was going to switch on 5G networks in Lagos last Sunday (yesterday) 10th, Monday 11th or Tuesday 12th May 2020.
The NCC said in a release signed by Dr. Henry Nkemadu, Director, Public Affairs at the Commission, and made available to Digital Times Nigeria that the statement from the faceless individuals or groups cannot be further from the truth.
The Commission, therefore, once again, unequivocally stated that there is no deployment of 5G in Nigeria at the moment.
Recall that the NCC back in November 2019, approved trial test for 5G services for a period of three (3) months and the trial has been concluded and installation decommissioned.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, said that “the trial among others was to study and observe any health or security challenges the 5G network might present. Relevant stakeholders including members of the security agencies were invited to participate during the trial.”
But the NCC said in its latest statement that it will continue to maintain its policy of technology neutrality and will continue to encourage service providers to deploy the best technology that will meet the needs of the society in a secured and friendly manner.
“The NCC had provided clarifications through Frequently Asked Questions on 5G in view of the recent developments in which misleading materials with no proven evidence are being circulated to link Coronavirus or COVID-19 with 5G technology and therefore, refutes the claim that there will be switching on of 5G in Lagos in its entirety.
“The Commission also provided clarifications on the laying of fibre optic cables within Lagos and other parts of the country to the effect that the laying of additional fibre optic cables is to strengthen the existing 3G and 4G infrastructure to provide robust and pervasive telecoms infrastructure to improve network performance,” the NCC noted in the statement.
“NCC has not issued any licence for 5G in Nigeria and therefore, the mobile network operators (MNOs) cannot switch on such technology. NCC is technology-neutral as such, we don’t license technology but assign spectrum to operators for deployment of any service when allocated by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC).
“As the telecoms regulator, we enjoin Nigerians to get accurate information from us rather than relying on information emanating on social media by some individuals out of ignorance to misinform our people,” Danbatta was further quoted as saying in the statement.
5G is the 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 people live and work.