FG hands over 5G spectrum to NCC for deployment

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Isa Pantami, the minister of communication and digital economy, has formally handed over the spectrum of the fifth-generation (5G) network to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

Pantami said this in Abuja while giving a keynote address during the public workshop on national policy on 5G networks and spectrum allocation for deployment today.

The minister said the allocation of bulk spectrum to the NCC is based on its regulatory roles.

“We are here today to officially allocate the 3.5GHz frequency band, specifically the 3.52GHz to 3.90GHz (or 380 MHz), to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for onward assignment to the winners of the 5G auctioning process. The initial allocation is done under the auspices of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC),” Pantami said.

The minister said 148 spectrum allocations had been made since 2019.

“5G networks offer major advantages over technologies that preceded it. These advantages include much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility,” he added.