Professor Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said that the Commission is very much ready for the deployment of the fifth generation (5G) technology in the country.
He was reacting to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, who announced that the Federal Government was in a hurry to deploy as soon as possible.
Buttressing his Commission’s readiness claim, Danbatta stated that the Commission has already set up an auction committee for 5G and all it is waiting for is additional spectrum as well as government’s approval for the auctioning of the available spectrum.
“All we are asking is additional spectrum to be allocated by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC). Of course, some of these spectrums are ready but we have to get the Federal Government’s approval to go ahead with the auctions”, Danbatta explained.
He used the opportunity to commend the Minister’s efforts at resolving some log- standing issues particularly the harmonisation of Right of Way (RoW) charges across the tiers of government while he also unfurled some of the regulator’s plans such as a book which is to be launched in the month of September.
” I have spoken about the first Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), comprising 8 agenda items. The SVP has come to the end and we have written a book providing documented progress we have made while implementing it. I am pleased to inform you that the book will be unveiled on 7 the September, 2021.”