By Emma Okonji
Telecommunication operators have said they are ready to apply for 5G licence to enable them rollout the service across Nigeria.
The operators disclosed this through their umbrella body, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that telecoms operators were ready for 5G rollout, since most of the handsets and mobile devices recently produced by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), are 5G compatible.
According to Adebayo, “The industry is ripe and ready for 5G rollout and telecoms operators are also ready for 5G rollout.
Operators have been involved in network rollout and expansion, and some have done the necessary upgrade required for 5G rollout.
“What remains is to commence field trials of the networks, where several sites will be connected, before the commercial rollout of 5G network. MTN for instance, did sample trial of 5G rollout in three cities in 2019, and that was in preparation for the field trial that will connect multiple sites, before the commercial rollout.”
Allaying fears that 5G rollout comes with health risks, Adebayo said the anticipated field trial would prove operators right that the technology poses no health hazard to telecoms consumers. “So if after the field trials, there are no negative health impact, then the public will accept 5G rollout. I believe that the field trials will testify to the non-harmful nature of 5G rollout,” Adebayo said.
THISDAY’s investigation however showed that MTN, Airtel, 9mobile and Globacom were ready to explore the emerging 5G technology, anytime the NCC is ready to release licence and spectrum for 5G rollout.
A source close to MTN, told THISDAY that the readiness of MTN Nigeria, dated back to 2019, when it became the only telecoms operator to launch a sample of 5G trial test on its network in three cities: Abuja, Calabar and Lagos.
According to the source, MTN has the network capacity for 5G rollout, and would just upgrade its existing network capacity and make few changes and the network would be ready for 5G rollout.
Another source close to 9mobile said although 9mobile does not have 5G network on ground, but that it was already rolling out 4G network, which would enable it to rollout its 5G network, anytime NCC releases 5G spectrum licence.
THISDAY also gathered from Airtel and Globacom that they would apply for 5G licence, once NCC gives the approval for 5G rollout in the country.
In preparation for 5G rollout, NCC, in 2019, gave approval to MTN to launch a trial test of 5G rollout on its network. In 2020, NCC released a
Draft Consultation Document on 5G rollout. The draft document, which was published on the Commission’s website, called for comments from telecommunications operators, industry stakeholders and the general public.
In readiness for 5G rollout, NCC, last week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat), to facilitate the release of contiguous bandwidth in one of the most suitable frequency spectrum bands for early deployment of 5G network services in Nigeria.
The MoU signing ceremony was the high point of discussions by the two organisations on how to relocate the NG-1R satellite of NigComSat to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) portion of the band, which is considered more suitable in terms of satellite service offering because of the advantage of cheaper terminal devices for end users.
The relocation will leave the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz – 3.9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use, while the cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G spectrum.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, had signed for NCC, while the Managing Director of NigComSat, Dr. Abimbola Alale, signed for NigComSat.
Danbatta, said the MoU would go a long way in making positive impact on the Nigerian economy, and also offer a new chapter of cooperation, collaborations and mutual assistance that would further spur the growth of the telecommunications ecosystem in the country.
