Nigeria is in preparatory mode for roll out of 5G services by the official global launch date of 2020, pushing the broadband revolution by modernizing regulation and policy reforms to boost the country’s digital economy and accelerate internet access for millions through increased mobile broadband penetration.
Akinwale Goodluck, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Global System Mobile Association (GSMA) said that it was necessary to start planning for 5G broadband connectivity in Nigeria, as the country has always been at the fore front of development and telecommunications regulations in Nigeria are recommended to other regulators in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For Nigeria to take full advantage of the next phase of its digital transformation, it is vital that collaboration between industry and government enables the right policy environment for millions more to benefit from ultra-fast mobile broadband. If policies don’t keep pace with the needs of society and technological innovation, there is a risk that citizens will be left behind and productivity and competitiveness will suffer,” Goodluck said at an event where the GSMA released a new report “Spotlight on Nigeria: Delivering a digital future.”
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The GSMA research shows that the mobile market in Nigeria contributed $21 billion to the country’s GDP in 2017, representing 5.5 percent of Nigeria’s total GDP. In addition, the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy resulted in the creation of nearly 500, 000direct and indirect jobs.
For the majority of Nigerians, mobile broadband is the first and possibly, only technology for accessing the internet, enabling better access to health, education and commercial opportunities, amongst other public services.
Smartphone adoption has risen to over 53 million connections, and 49 percent of the population are currently connected by mobile technology, compared to less than one percent who have a fixed-line connection.
On what the NCC is actively doing to prepare the Nigeria’s telecommunication industry for the fifth generation revolution, Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC told BusinessDay that the commission has spectrum bands available for operators to purchase in order to roll out 5G services in the country as at when due.
“ We have taken steps to preserve the 26GHz (gigahertz), 38GHz and 42GHz spectrum bands for 5G. There will be a number of slots in all these bands and the commission has also made provision for subsidy payment for infrastructure companies (InfraCos) who wish to deploy 5G. Public private partnership, infrastructure and the right regulatory standards are also necessary to facilitate deployment of 5G services across the country,” Danbatta said.
He added that “although the NCC does not have any regulations for this right now, we are not going to be caught unawares by this revolution and that is why we have started this conversation.”
With increased spectrum harmonization and licensing reform, the GSMA forecasts that Nigeria’s mobile penetration will rise to 55 percent of the population by 2025, with 70 percent having 3G connectivity and 17 percent having access to 4G networks. Currently, only 44 percent of mobile subscribers in Nigeria are using 3G technology and 4 percent are using 4G technology, compared to over 18 percent 4G penetration in South Africa and 16 percent in Angola.
“This workshop is intended to sensitize stakeholders about our readiness to commence deployment of 5G in Nigeria. We are making plans to support the deployment of not only 5G but also 4G and 3G,” Danbatta confirmed.
The GSMA has identified support for and release of harmonized spectrum and a modernized licensing framework as fundamental building blocks for Nigeria’s digital future.
With a year to go until WRC-19, leading the region in support of identifying new IMT bands that 5G will benefit from, especially the 26GHz, 40GHz and 70GHz bands, will be crucial.
Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson
