By Idris Bakare
THE Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), has explained reasons the country is yet to launch the fifth Generation (5G) Technology.
Speaking at the 2020 Virtua Nigeria Innovation Summit held in Abuja, Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stressed that the country is exploring the potential benefit as well as health implications of deploying the 5G network in the country.
Danbatta who was represented by Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. ikechukwu Adinde said that socio-economic benefits of the expansion in telecommunications infrastructure embarked upon by the Commission would be of immense benefit to the country, especially with the roll out of the 5G technology which currently is being test run in about forty (40) countries.
He disclosed that nations that plan to succeed must have well-articulated policies in place to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
According to him, “Between 2015 and 2020, much has been done to put Nigeria on the global map of nations that are electronically driven while delivering financial intermediation. Together with our stakeholders from the banking sector, the NCC is actively involved in the application of various electronic portals that continue to drive transactions off banking floor and onto handheld devices or personal computers.
“The NCC, through its interventions, has continued to lift the Nigerian economy and create momentum and hope for financial inclusion based on the seamless implementation of the Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan.
“It is pertinent, at this juncture, to note that NCC’s Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) have been crucial in the Federal Government’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1,209 COVID-19-related calls made between March and June 2020 from the nineteen (19) ECCs across the country.
“The establishment of the ECCs by the Commission across the nation was borne out of the need to safeguard all Nigerians irrespective of their geographical locations.
“We hope to reap the rewards of the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) in the coming years and provide Nigerians the comfort of new innovations and new ways of living.
“This would imply that broadband penetration would be improved significantly through deliberate facilitation of investment in fibre infrastructure, QoS will be assured, available spectrum would be optimized with full benefits, there would be more investment opportunities in the industry, there will be access to strategic collaboration and partnerships, consumers would be fully protected and empowered, there will be fair competition and inclusive growth.” He said
