The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its faith in the vision of
the AfricaNEXT Conference (AfricaNXT) to “co-create a prosperous future for all
Africans” through collaborations, conversations and programming that are oriented in
harvesting, harnessing and leveraging innovative technologies.
“The visualisations and concrete actions of the AfricaNXT conference are in congruence
with NCC’s faith in the promise of technology to galvanise Nigeria’s, nay Africa’s,
development. This explains our continued support and participation at the Conference
which is now in its 10th Year, and we will continue to play active roles in this event
which takes place in Lagos annually”.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Prof. Umar
Danbatta, stated this with unmistakable conviction during a chat with the Commission’s
in-house media team last week, ahead of preparations by the Commission’s delegation
to the Confab which will take place from 27th February to 4th March 2022.
The EVC regretted his inability to lead NCC’s delegation to the Conference because he
is already slated to play a key governmental and institutional role at the Mobile World
Congress (MWC) 2022, organised by GSM Association. The Mobile World Congress,
the world’s largest and most influential forum and exhibition by stakeholders in the
mobile technology ecosystem, takes place in Barcelona annually in the same week
AfricaNXT happens in Lagos.
Formerly known as Social Media Week Lagos, the AfricaNXT Conference is the largest
assemblage of innovators from across Africa and Africa’s Diasporan communities. As a
consistent programming partner of AfricaNXT, the NCC has been a regular feature of
the conference and festival. Although the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the
organisers to observe a low-key, strictly virtual conference in 2021, the 2020 conference
was attended by over 20,000 people (both in-person and virtually). At the 2020
conference, NCC’s discourse overviewed the Fifth Generation technology and services,
where the panelists explained 5G, which at that time, seemed like an abstract idea to
many.
At the AfricaNXT 2022, the NCC will take the discourse on 5G further in a more
pragmatic context in view of the progress achieved over the past two years.
The thematic focus for its panel of discussants is, “MOVING FORWARD STEADILY,
TIMELY AND WITH PRECISION: THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF
DEPLOYMENT OF 5G SERVICES”. Participants will have the opportunity to glean the
benefits of 5G services to individuals, businesses, and the nation, with positive
implications for the Continent as Nigeria matches steadily to become the first country in
West Africa to deploy 5G technology services.
The journey to the birth of 5G services in Nigeria started in 2019. Between then and
now, the Nigerian Communications Commission has been upbeat in rallying
stakeholders to forge all necessary partnerships, collaborations and alliances. There
have been numerous stakeholders’ consultations (including an all-inclusive, robust
public hearing at the National Assembly; and a presentation to the Federal Executive
Council). The NCC also instituted a communications campaign, pivoted on public
information and education, especially in the vortex of misconceptions, misinformation,
disinformation and malinformation about 5G.
Following the approval by the Federal Government, a Proof of Concept trials
demonstrating the possibilities of 5G took place in some cities in Nigeria. The NCC, in
collaboration with stakeholders, equally developed an Information Memorandum, which
was reviewed by all stakeholders, following which a policy on 5G was instituted by the
Federal Government. The policy was unveiled to the public by President Muhammadu
Buhari on 25 January 2022.
Armed with an extant approval, the NCC also, had earlier conducted a globally-
acclaimed auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum on 13 December 2021. The spectrum is to
be used to deploy 5G services. The bid was won by two communications companies
and licensees of the NCC – Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria. Just few days
ago, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali
Ibrahim Pantami, officially handed to NCC the spectrum for 5G services for allocation to
the winners of the bid.
At the handover ceremony, which took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on 17th
February 2022, Prof. Danbatta puts the status of implementation of 5G services
metaphorically and figuratively by stating that “the coast is now clear” for the launch of
5G services in Nigeria.
Therefore, having fulfilled every condition precedent to the deployment of 5G services in
Nigeria, the NCC, tried-and-true, and in demonstration of commitment to its noted
operational efficiency and regulatory effectiveness, is not resting on its oars in public
education and information sharing. It is the reason the Commission is leveraging
AfricaNXT, a rare, seminal, and historic assemblage of practical innovators and
enthusiasts of technology and development, to deepen knowledge about 5G among its
ever-widening geography of stakeholders.
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