5G network finally debuts in nigeria
The Fifth Generation Communication Network, otherwise know as 5G has finally been approved by Federal Government of Nigeria for the country’s Digital Economy.
The 5G policy was approved on Wednesday by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, following the presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami).
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Technical Assistant on Information Technology to the Minister, Dr Femi Adeluyi, saying that implementation of the National Policy is with immediate effect.
According to the statement, 5G network as a national policy has been developed over a period of two years, due to the need for extensive stakeholder engagement and the need to ensure adequate public awareness and sensitization.
The statement added that stakeholder engagement was thorough and multi-sectoral in nature as it also took into account the report of the three-month 5G trials that commenced on November 25, 2019.
“The report critically reviewed and studied the health and security implications of deploying 5G in Nigeria.
“Leading international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an organ of the United Nations, have confirmed that the deployment of 5G networks leave no adverse health effect and are safe.
Experts say 5G networks offer significant advantages over the current technologies”, Adeluyi said.
He also listed some of the advantages of 5G to include, much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility, adding that Aeveral countries have already commenced the deployment of 5G netwok and are enjoying its benefits.
The countries are: the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Republic of Korea, South Africa and Lesotho, to mention but a few.
The National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), chaired by Minister Pantami, said it will soon release spectrum to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) that meet all the required conditions.
The NCC, the regulator of the telecommunications sector, has promised to continue to engaging stakeholders with a view to developing the regulatory instruments required for the successful deployment of the technology in Nigeria.
