NCC: We’ve not concluded plans to deploy 5G network

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has not concluded plans to deploy fifth-generation (5G) mobile technology in Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, its director of public affairs, the commission said consultations are ongoing and deployment of 5G network has not been finalised.

5G mobile technology is an improvement on today’s 4G technology, and it is already in deployment in some countries like China, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand.

Adinde said the draft consultation document on 5G deployment uploaded on the agency’s website details expectations of all the stakeholders in the communications industry in Nigeria.

“This document defines the implementation plan for the deployment of 5G in Nigeria. It provides a background into the benefits of 5G technology and outlines the commission’s plans and strategies for a successful implementation of 5G in Nigeria,” the statement read.

“It presents guidelines for the relevant areas of the technology and the expectations of the commission from the operators. This plan takes into account the expectations of all the stakeholders in the communications industry in Nigeria.”

The NCC spokesman said Nigeria tested the 5G network in some parts of the country in 2019 in collaboration with a network operator.

He said consultations are ongoing in form of engagement with the academia and funding 5G related research projects.

Adinde said NCC will not deploy the 5G network without due consultation with stakeholders.

“These engagements are targeted at enabling the development of robust policies, which will put Nigeria in the best place to contribute maximally to the digital economy drive of the nation,” it read.

“The specific targets of these engagements include the development of policies which have the potential of accelerating the deployment of 5G networks in Nigeria, maximizing the productivity and efficiency benefits of 5G to the nation, creating new opportunities for Nigerian businesses at home and abroad and encouraging in-country investment and ensuring the operations of 5G networks are in conformity with international standards.

“For the avoidance of doubt, as with the previous technologies such as 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G, the commission will not commence 5G deployment without due consultation with all relevant stakeholders.”

Several controversies have trailed the efforts to deploy 5G network in Nigeria.

A claim that COVID-19 is caused by 5G radiation was found to be false by a fact check by TheCable.