NCC Raises Concern over Poor Infrastructure in Planned 5G Rollout

 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, has reiterated its plans to auction the fifth generation network, otherwise known as 5G, currently being deployed by developed countries, however, raised serious concern about the poor state of power infrastructure in the country, which it said could mar the deployment of 5G rollout in the country.

MTN had in December last year did a trial launch of 5G in Nigeria in preparation for the rollout of 5G across its network.

NCC, however, raised fears of a successful deployment of 5G without adequate power infrastructure.

The industry regulator, which raised the concern on Thursday at the ongoing Social Media Week 2020 event in Lagos, identified inadequate fibre coverage and poor state of power infrastructure as factors that could slow down the 5G deployment across the country.

NCC, therefore, called on the federal government to prioritise adequate power generation and distribution in the country to address the challenge.

The regulator, during a panel session, said something urgent needed to be done to fix the power sector, if not, the 5G commercialisation in the country would be seriously threatened.

Speaking on the theme: ‘5G Network Deployment-Social Economic Benefits and Challenges’, the Director of Technical Standard and Network Integrity at NCC, Mr. Bako Wakil, said 5G remained a clear departure from 3G and 4G networks.

According to Wakil, “5G, also known as IMT 2020, has been designed with huge capability and requirements for today and future need. Having carried out successful trial in the country, the next is commercialisation, but we have identified the erratic power situation in the country and low fibre infrastructure as major limitations to 5G deployment on a large scale in Nigeria.”

While NCC can comfortably address the fibre infrastructure gap, Wakil said: "Power generation and distribution is not within the purview of NCC, but we are working with the relevant agencies to see what can be done."

In his contribution at the panel moderated by NCC Head of Online and Special Publication, Dr. Niyi Ibietan, the Commission's Assistant Director of Spectrum Administration, Mr. Kenneth Uzoekwe, said a lot of spectrums have been identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Uzoekwe, who represented the Commission's Director of Spectrum Administration, Mr. Austin Nwaulune, said about six spectrums at higher bands have been marked down, adding: "They are available, but yet to be assigned."

According to him, 5G's importance and beauty also lie in the availability of spectrum, stressing that whenever Nigeria is ready for commercial deployment of 5G network, there would be some re-assignment of some spectrum to fast-track deployment.

On what 5G holds for Nigeria if successfully deployed, Uzoekwe said broadband would improve, leading to faster download and upload of contents; encourage financial inclusion, faster health care service delivery, smarter transport system and appliances.

Addressing the gap created by inadequate power, Wakil said though solar technology and inverter could be deployed to cell sites relatively, he however, raised security fears of possible theft of the solar panels.

Wakil assured Nigerians that NCC would do everything possible to ensure that the National Assembly members pass the Critical National Infrastructure Bill into law, adding that the passage will deter social miscreants from willfully damaging telecoms facilities, knowing the consequences.