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Category: Telecom

  • 6.6 Million Nigerians Become MTN Shareholders As Telco Rakes in N111.75bn

    6.6 Million Nigerians Become MTN Shareholders As Telco Rakes in N111.75bn

     

    MTN Nigeria Communication Plc said it now has 6.6 million Nigerians as direct or indirect shareholders as it made N111.75bn from its share offer to Nigerians.

     

    The telecommunications company said this in a statement titled ‘Results of the series 1 offer for sale of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc ordinary shares, first public offer via digital platform in Nigeria’.

     

    The Chief Executive Officer, MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, said, “We are pleased that this offer has given so many Nigerians the opportunity to become owners of MTN Nigeria.

     

    “With over 6.6 million Nigerians directly or indirectly becoming shareholders in MTN Nigeria, the objective of broadening the shareholder base and creating shared value has been achieved.”

     

    The company said its offer was 139.47 per cent oversubscribed, leading to an allocation of an additional 86.25 million shares above the 575 million shares it had initially offered to the public.

     

    It said it allotted 661.25 million shares at a fixed price of N169 per share.

     

    MTN Nigeria said a total of 126,720 retail investors submitted valid applications and received full allotment.

     

    It added that about 76 per cent of successful applicants via the digital platform were women, and 85 per cent of applicants were under 40.

     

    The CEO, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said, “We are delighted to welcome so many new shareholders to the MTN family, up 11.6 times from the number before the offer.

     

    “It has been inspiring to see so many Nigerians, many of whom are young, acquire shares for the first time, and use a digital platform to do so. This is the beginning of a journey to broaden our shareholding and there will be more opportunities to participate.”

     

    The company said following the successful completion of the offer, MTN Group’s shareholding in MTN Nigeria reduced by 3.25 percentage points from 78.83 per cent to 75.58 per cent.

     

  • Sanwo-Olu Commends Airtel Employees for Support During Peak of COVID-19 Pandemic

    Sanwo-Olu Commends Airtel Employees for Support During Peak of COVID-19 Pandemic

    The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commended employees of Airtel Nigeria for donating the sum of N20 million from their personal income to support indigent residents of Lagos State during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

     

    Sanwo-Olu, who spoke yesterday (25/01/2002) when the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Surendran Chemmenkotil, paid him a courtesy visit, said he appreciated the initiative and gesture of Airtel employees when they came forward during the heat of the pandemic to support the State government.

     

    “I thank Airtel employees for their support during the heat of the pandemic and I am glad that we are now exiting the 4th wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. Although Lagos has been the epicentre of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, we will be able to eradicate the virus from Lagos,” he said.

     

    The Governor, who wished the Airtel CEO a successful tenure, also noted that the Lagos State Government will continue to promote and leverage on technology to accelerate economic growth as well as create prosperity for residents and indigenes of the State, saying technology is very important and a strong enabler in realizing the government’s agenda.

     

    “A priority is the Lagos Smart City project as we are very persuaded to push forward technology. Many young people see technology as a platform to create, innovate and express their talents and we have a role as government to continue to create the enabling environment for this to thrive,” he noted.

    Sanwo-Olu Commends Airtel Employees for Support During Peak of COVID-19 Pandemic
    L-R: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo- Okusanya; Head Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Erhumu Bayagbon; Director, Airtel Business, Ogo Ofomata; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Surendran Chemmenkotil; Lagos State Governor, Mr.Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor Lagos State, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Folashade Sherifat Jaji and Vice President (VP), Retail Sales, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Dokun Oye during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the state house Marina, Lagos on Tuesday, January 25th, 2022

    Speaking earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Surendran Chemmenkotil, commended Sanwo-Olu for creating an enabling environment for business to thrive in the State, noting that Airtel will continue to collaborate with the State government to create opportunities for residents and indigenes of the State.

     

    “Historically, we have enjoyed a robust relationship with Lagos and we wish to continue to collaborate with Lagos State to empower more residents and indigenes of the State. Mr. Governor, Lagos is important to our operations in Nigeria. As major stakeholders, we will continue to seek collaborative opportunities with Lagos State just as we will continue to empower and support the indigenes and residents of Lagos State,” he said.

     

    The Airtel CEO was accompanied by the company’s Enterprise (Airtel Business Director), Ogo Ofomata; Vice President, Retail Sales, Oladokun Oye and Head of Public Relations, Erhumu Bayagbon.

  • BREAKING: Buhari Lifts Ban On Twitter

    BREAKING: Buhari Lifts Ban On Twitter

     

    The Federal Government has lifted the suspension on microblogging site, Twitter, seven months after it suspended the social media platform in Nigeria.

     

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

     

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022. The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim,” the statement added.

     

    “In the Memo, the Minister updates and requests the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation.”

     

    The government and Twitter have been in negotiations since over restoring the service based on a set of conditions, including Twitter registering operations in Nigeria.

     

    According to him, Twitter has agreed to demands for working in the country.

     

    It added that the committee set up by the Federal Government engaged with the Twitter team to engage resolve the impasse, adding that the resolutions will bring “endless possibilities”.

     

    “Therefore, our engagement will help Twitter improve and develop more business models to cover a broader area in Nigeria. Furthermore, the FGN looks forward to providing a conducive environment for Twitter and other global tech companies to achieve their potential and be sustainably profitable in Nigeria,” the statement added.

     

    Nigeria halted Twitter operations in June after the company deleted a comment by Buhari, provoking an international outcry over freedom of expression.

     

    Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

     

    The United States, European Union, and Canada were among those who joined rights groups in condemning the ban as damaging to freedom of expression in Africa’s most populous country.

     

    Twitter had a major role in political discourse in Nigeria, with the hashtags #BringBackOurGirls after Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in 2014, and #EndSARS during anti-police brutality protests in 2020.

  • Bilesanmi Sends 2022 New Year Message To Nigerians, Reveals How ATCIS Efforts Made FG To Extend NIN-SIM Linkage Till 31st March

    Bilesanmi Sends 2022 New Year Message To Nigerians, Reveals How ATCIS Efforts Made FG To Extend NIN-SIM Linkage Till 31st March

     

    The National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Prince Sina Bilesanmi has revealed how the passionate pleas made by members of association to  the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) led to the extension of the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.

     

    The deadline earlier announced by the Federal Government was Friday,  December 31, 2021.

     

    In his New Year message to Nigerians, which was made available to journalists in Lagos, the ATCIS National President, who tagged the extension as ‘last minute miracle achievement for year 2021, said the major reason for asking for the extension during the two-day meeting with the Minister was a result of  record which shows that with almost 191 million subscribers, only less than 70 million subscribers have linked their NIN- SIM.

     

    Bilesanmi noted;  “Our association demanded for more days simply because with almost 191 million subscribers, record show that only less than 70 million Subscribers have linked their NIN- SIM, in this case, what happen to the 101 million subscribers?More so, NIMC has not really been making progress with what they promised us as citizens.”

     

    Prince Sina Bilesanmi thanked the Federal Government for giving millions of subscribers another opportunity.

     

    He sought for collaboration with the Ministry as 5G is about to be lunched come 2022 as he also applauded the efforts of the respective staff in ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge Telephone Subscriber’s citizen and legal residents that are yet to complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before 31st March 2022.

     

    He however advised  subscribers to be careful with their phones noting  that any crime committed on their phones, they will be responsible for it.

     

    The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) is the leading masses telecom advocacy body that promotes Subscriber interests as well as defends Subscriber right in Nigeria with over 190 million Subscribers membership strength across six geopolitical zone in Nigeria.

     

    In ATCIS effort, the association has made over 730 newspaper press released publications, both local and international as well as online news publications, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 230 Success achievements so far to the benefit of Subscribers across the country.

     

    ATCIS want it to be on record of history that our association has spent about #450 million naira since 2014 till 31st December 2021,which has been on self -sponsored by members without government agency’s in Nigeria.

     

    The government had come up with the mandatory NIN-SIM linkage exercise on December 9, 2020, with a deadline of December 31st, 2021 for all subscribers to comply or get blocked from the networks. It has, however, extended the deadline several times since then.

     

    Announcing the latest extension in a statement jointly signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and the Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Mr. Kayode Adegoke, the government said the extension followed requests by stakeholders.

     

    “Following the request by Subscriber body call ATCIS, other stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022. This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents,” the statement.

     

    It added that the  stakeholders have also applauded the Federal Government on the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerian Subscribers and legal residents across the country. “As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71million) NINs with over fourteen-thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country,” it disclosed.

     

    “Furthermore, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.  The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.

     

    “The Honourable Minister has, however, implored ATCIS the subscriber body and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification. He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.

     

    Visit:

    www.atcisnigeria.com

    Email: atcisnigeria@gmail.com

    Instagram: atcisnigeria

    Twitter: @atcis9ja

    Facebook:atcisnigeria ATCIS hotline: 07052713300

     

  • JUST IN: FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification to 31st March 2022 As NIN Enrolments Exceed 71 Million

    JUST IN: FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification to 31st March 2022 As NIN Enrolments Exceed 71 Million

     

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) said the Federal Government has again extended the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.

     

    The Minister made this known on Friday, December 31, in a statement jointly signed by the Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ike Adinde and the Head of Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission, Mr. Kayode Adegoke.

     

    According to the statement, while the stakeholders have applauded the Federal Government on the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerians and legal residents across the country, as of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country. 

     

    To this end, the NIMC said it has set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.

     

    “The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.

     

    “Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022.  This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.

     

    The Minister has however implored Nigerians and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification.

     

     He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.

     

    The Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria thanked all Nigerians and stakeholders for their commitment and support towards the success of the project.

     

    They also applauded the efforts of the respective staff in ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge citizens and legal residents to complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before 31st March 2022.

  • US firm, Equinix, Acquires Funke Opeke’s MainOne, in $320m Deal

    US firm, Equinix, Acquires Funke Opeke’s MainOne, in $320m Deal

     

    Equinix, Incorporated has announced that it is acquiring Nigerian Communications company, MainOne founded by Funke Opeke, in a $320m deal that is set to be sealed in the first quarter of 2022.

     

    According to Equinix, the acquisition is its way of expanding into Africa since MainOne has a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.

     

    The company added that the deal was still subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including the requisite regulatory approvals.

     

    The company said, “The transaction has an enterprise value of $320m and is expected to be AFFO accretive upon close, excluding integration costs, marking the first step in Equinix’s long-term strategy to become a leading African carrier neutral digital infrastructure company.

     

    President and Chief Executive Officer, Equinix, Charles Meyers, said, “The acquisition of MainOne will represent a critical point of entry for Platform Equinix into the expansive and rapidly growing African market.

     

    Reacting to the acquisition, Opeke said, “Equinix will accelerate our long-term vision to grow digital infrastructure investments across Africa.

     

    “I thank our founding shareholders led by Mr. Fola Adeola, MainStreet Technologies, AFC, PAIDF, FBN, Polaris and AfDB for investing in the MainOne vision to bridge the Digital Divide in Africa. With similar values and culture to what we have jointly built in twelve years, Equinix is the preferred partner for our growth journey.

     

    “The MainOne team is excited about the partnership created through the acquisition, and we look forward to building our next chapter together.”

     

  • NCC Sets For 5G Trial Thursday

    NCC Sets For 5G Trial Thursday

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC says it is set for the second trial of 5G in Nigeria.

     

    According to the commission, the trial which is scheduled to hold on Thursday is necessary in order to validate the national policy on 5G for the digital economy.

     

    The commission added that the supervised trial would be conducted by Airtel Networks Limited and its Original Equipment Manufacturer on Thursday.

     

    MTN Nigeria Communications had held the first 5G trial in Nigeria in 2019.

     

    In its ‘Draft Consultation Document for Deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technology in Nigeria’, the NCC disclosed that six locations across the nation were selected for this trial.

     

    The locations included, Abuja, Calabar, Lagos, Kano, Abeokuta, and Ibadan.

     

    According to the NCC, the key parameters it was looking out for included: Throughput, latency and jitter measurements; Co-channel interference impact on QoS; Handover performance between access points (as applicable); Type/models of 5G terminals used for the test; Types of services (voice, data, video, etc.) and; Health and safety (EMF radiation level).

     

    During the 2019 trials, the NCC disclosed that a 2GB movie was downloaded within 17 secs on 5G (using 26GHz) and 5mins on 4G network (using 3.5GHz) with a maximum download throughput of 1.7Gbps and 70Mbps respectively in Abuja.

     

  • MTN Group Set to Sell 575 Million Shares To Nigerians

    MTN Group Set to Sell 575 Million Shares To Nigerians

     

    MTN Group Limited has announced plans to offer for sale the shares of its Nigerian subsidiary, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.

     

    The Group has disclosed its intention to proceed with a public offer for sale of 575 million shares in MTN Nigeria.

     

    This was made known in a notice signed by the company’s secretary, Uto Ukpanah and filed with The Exchange.

     

    The notice further stated that the offer would be by way of a bookbuild to institutional investors and a fixed price to retail investors.

    MTN Group Set to Sell 575 Million Shares To Nigerians
    Karl Toriola, MTN Nigeria CEO

    According to the statement, the offer is expected to open in November 2021 with a bookbuild to institutional investors and after which a fixed price will be announced for retail investors before it closes in December 2021.

     

    It is worth noting that this is the first step towards the Group’s previously communicated statement notifying The Exchange and investing public of its intention to sell down 14% of its current shareholding in MTN Nigeria.

     

  • GSM@20: Danbatta Bags Award As NCC Identifies Next Frontiers For Industry Growth

    GSM@20: Danbatta Bags Award As NCC Identifies Next Frontiers For Industry Growth

     

    As stakeholders in Nigeria commemorate 20 years of telecoms revolution in Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clearly identified key initiatives being implemented to consolidate the growth and gains of the telecom sector.

     

    Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, listed the digital frontiers while delivering a paper titled: ‘Telecommunications in Nigeria: The Next Frontier’ at the 20th anniversary of the telecommunications revolution in Nigeria organised recently by Compact Communications Limited, at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

     

    At the event, the Commission received a recognition award “in appreciation of its institutional support to the growth and development of telecoms in Nigeria”. The EVC of NCC also received a separate award “in appreciation of his immense contribution to the growth and sustenance of telecoms development in Nigeria.”

     

    Represented at the forum by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Danbatta said in the last 20 years, the sector has witnessed significant growth in subscribers, internet usage, investment, innovation, contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and multiplier effects of the growth in other sectors of the economy.

     

    Danbatta stated that in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, NCC is driving new frontiers aimed at ensuring consistent growth of the nation’s digital economy sphere.

     

    According to him, as a foremost telecommunications regulatory agency and consistent with NCC mandate as stipulated in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and other guiding legislations, the NCC has been at the forefront of leveraging latest technologies and accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment to put Nigeria on the global map of the digital economy experience.

     

    In this regard, he said NCC was working to ensure increased broadband penetration in line with Federal Government’s targets as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Pan (NNBP), 2020-2025. The NNBP was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2020.

     

    Danbatta explained that the NNBP has a target to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration among 90 per cent of the country’s population. The Plan also seeks to achieve broadband speeds of 15Mbp and 25Mbps in rural and urban areas respectively over the next five years.

     

    “The Commission is also driving various initiatives aimed at facilitating the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technology in Nigeria.

     

    Prof. Danbatta emphasized that a robust broadband infrastructure will play a key role in fast-tracking the effective deployment of 5G technology and facilitate availability of services associated with 5G technology.

     

    “Already, the Commission is set to auction some spectrum slots in 3.5GHz band and we have confirmed 97 per cent readiness for 5G deployment in this regard. This is in line with the marching order given to us by Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), following approval by the Federal Executive Council to proceed on our 5G Deployment Plan. The Information Memorandum (IM) for the auction had earlier been shared with stakeholders and we are set to auction the 5G spectrum before the end of the year,” he said.

     

    The NCC Chief Executive also said one of the initiatives being emplaced by the Commission to enhance the attainment of the next frontier for telecom development in Nigeria and the nation’s economic growth, is the ongoing review of licensing structure in the sector. This is to align telecoms licensing process with the wide range of technological advances, convergence of technologies and services shaping global telecoms space.

     

    Danbatta said the Commission has also finalized review of its Spectrum Trading Guidelines (STG). The STG, according to the EVC, allows spectrum resource in-country to be traded on the Secondary Market through Transfer, Sharing or Leasing (TSL) once the stipulated regulatory conditions have been complied with.

     

    Danbatta declared that NNBP 2020-2025 requires that these Guidelines be reviewed to ensure that un-utilised spectrum is fairly traded to facilitate rollout by other operators among others. The Guidelines will, therefore, facilitate the country’s yearning for ubiquitous broadband access in line with the economic agenda of the Federal Government.

     

    As vehicles for implementation of the NNBP, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) and other similar digital economy policies, Danbatta said the NCC has unveiled its Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), 2021-2025, which will ultimately drive the next frontier of growth in the telecoms sector. He said the two strategic plans embody critical areas on which the Commission intend to focus toward driving the implementation of the digital economy agenda of the government.

     

    He stated that the two regulatory documents (the SMP and SVP) encapsulate the totality of regulatory and policy initiatives, designed to re-invent and transform the telecom ecosystem, within the context of regulation, to a greater height. He added that this, to the Commission, is the next frontier for the sector. “While emerging technologies are disruptive by nature, Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind digitally and this explains Commission’s engagement with developmental regulations for the industry and we are irrevocably committed to this,” he said.

     

    Other individuals bestowed with recognition awards at the event include Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; and the former EVC/CEO of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, both for pioneering the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) revolution of 2001. The Zenith Bank also received an award for being at the forefront of leveraging technology for powering financial services delivery. Among the journalists who received awards is a veteran ICT journalist/Publisher, E-World News, Aaron Ukodie.

     

     

  • 5G: NCC Hosts Stakeholder Engagement on Spectrum Auction

    5G: NCC Hosts Stakeholder Engagement on Spectrum Auction

     

    As part of activities lined up for the implementation of the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology Deployment Plan in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to host a stakeholder engagement forum this week.

     

    The forum will afford industry stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the draft Information Memorandum (IM) for the upcoming auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band.

     

    Scheduled to hold at the Lagos Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Thursday November 4, 2021 at 10:00 am prompt, the Commission has confirmed that the attendance at the event is open to all interested stakeholders in the telecoms sector and beyond.

     

    The decision to host the stakeholder engagement is in keeping with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and NCC’s distinctive tradition of robust stakeholder consultation on all telecom regulation-related issues.

     

    In June, the Commission inaugurated a committee to develop the IM for the auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum band, which will be utilized for early deployment of 5G technology services in the country.

     

    The Information Memorandum (IM) is a comprehensive document, which defines the process emplaced by the Commission for the auctioning of the 3.5GHz spectrum band. It also provides information on the Nigerian telecommunications market, details of the spectrum to be made available, the pre-qualification process, the auction process as well as the indicative timetable.

     

    The stakeholder engagement forum is, therefore, an important regulatory prerequisite for the planned auction of 3.5Ghz spectrum before the end of this year.

     

    Accordingly, the Commissions has called on interested stakeholders and members of the public to participate and make contributions to discussions around this important draft document.

     

    In line with the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, and the positioning of Nigeria as an early adopter of digital technology as well as a major participant in the growing global digital economy, the successful and timely deployment of 5G is crucial for the country.

     

    The 5G technology is expected to facilitate several emerging technologies, generate innovate new use cases, spur significant socio-economic growth and create jobs.