MTN, MAFAB To Deploy 5G Technology August 24

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Nigerians will start to experience the Fifth Generation (5G) technology from August 24 following the issuance of the spectrum licence to both MTN and Mafab Communications which won the auction held last December

The two telcos that won the bids for the 3.5GHz spectrum at an auction conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and supervised by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are now to roll out, giving Nigerians the opportunity to enjoy the much-awaited technology experience

“In line with the terms and conditions of the 5G license, the licensees are expected to commence rolling out 5G services effective from August 24, 2022,” says Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs in a statement issued Wednesday.

With this directive, both Mafab Communication and the MTN can now accelerate the process for the deployment of the Fifth Generation technology on their network to meet up with the order by NCC.

NCC confirmed the issuance of the 5G Spectrum Licences to the two telecom firms that won the December 13 3.5GHz spectrum auction conducted by the Commission.

The Commission led by its Executive Vice Chairman Umar Garba Danbatta had on April 20 told the Board of Commissioners at its two-day Special Meeting when the management briefed it on the status of the spectrum auction.

The two telcos are now to usher Nigerians into a more robust Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and a more digitised Nigerian economy.

The 5G network on deployment is expected to bring a lot of benefits and opportunities that will engender accelerated growth and smart living in the country.

The technology is also expected to bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.

The chairman, of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) and, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, had on February 22, 2022, officially handed over the spectrum allocation for 5G deployment as well as Federal of the Government-approved National Policy on 5G to the Commission after a transparent, diligent, fair and credible auction of 3.5GHz on December 13, 2021,

Subsequently, the Commission, on February 24, 2022, confirmed the full payment of $273.6 million each by the two spectrum winners, in addition to the spectrum assignment fee paid by MTN, for the 5G spectrum licence.

The Commission is optimistic that effective implementation of the National Policy on 5G will accelerate the actualisation of the national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030, as well as other sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation.

While the licensees are expected to meet the timetable regarding their 5G network rollout obligations, the NCC requires collective efforts and support of the private sector and government toward transforming every aspect of the nation’s economy through 5G, which will herald greater transformation than what the nation witnessed with the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G.

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