From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says it is set to deploy the Fifth Generation (5G) in Nigeria, with the issuance of spectrum licenses to the companies that will roll out services, already conclude
The Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, made the disclosure on the occasion of NCC special day, held at the on going 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair.
The NCC boss who was represented by Enugu zonal controller of the organization, Mr Ogbonnaya Ugama, assured the public that the Commission would continue to drive digital transformation of the nation’s economy and that telecom consumers are fairly treated by service providers.
He stated: “Although, the deployment will start from the state capital and gradually extends to other areas across the state, it is important to state that, unlike 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G, the 5G network will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities to communications services in Nigeria for business and help to further open up Nigeria in the merging global market”
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Dambatta disclosed that the number of telecom consumers had continued to increase impressively over the last few years with active mobile subscriptions reaching 197.5 million as at January, 2022 and Internet subscribers exceeding 143.7 million, while broadband penetration stood at 41.61 per cent.
He said that data supported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) identified telecom as one of the sectors that took Nigeria out of post-COVOD recession, further underscoring the relevance of the sector to the national economy.
In his remarks, the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Barr. Jasper Nduagwuike said the entrance of mobile telecommunications companies into the economic space has been a huge relief as it has ended the years of letter writing, telegram and others.
He said that in the midst of the positive development however, care must be taken to ensure that the people are not taken advantage of.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) of NCC, Efosa Idehen stated that the theme of Trade Fair, “Opening up Nigerian Businesses Windows for Competitiveness in the Emerging Global Market” was apt for the very reason that the telecommunications platform is now a major enabler in a world that is increasingly becoming global.
