The Nigerian government has advised State Governors to look beyond the monies they would collect from network operators for the Fifth Generation Network (5G) in their states but focus on the gains that the deployment would bring to their states and the Nigerian economy.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, gave the advice during the public workshop on National Policy on 5G Networks and Handover of Spectrum Allocation for deployment in Abuja, Nigeria.
Pantami said, “the issue of right of way becomes a challenge from time to time. The government has addressed the issue more than ninety per cent but from time to time issues may come. I do hope that they will understand the economic benefit. The security benefits and many more of these technological advancement. It is beyond the right of way charges. It goes beyond that. So let us try to make the process very easy for operators so that they will be able to deploy 5G,” he said.
Reliable communication
He also noted that the adoption of of 5G technologies and rolling out 5G networks will support in the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“5G will provide very fast and reliable communication for our security personnel and allow then to swiftly access relevant data required to carry out their duties.The time required to access data for records from hours minutes.
5G will allow for real time high quality and data intensive surveillance of relevant areas using high definition cameras. Emerging technologies like Blockchain can significantly improve transparency to the delivery of government services at all levels. It can significantly improve transparency in procurement procedures enhance land and registry system, ensure that government documents are not accessed by unauthorised personnel,” he stressed.
The Minister used the opportunity to speak on the National Policy on 5G deployment in the country.
“The policy for our country’s digital economy is also going to be distributed after the luncheon we use the occasion for the public presentation of the policy and we encourage our stakeholders to look into it and ensure a very successful implementation of the policy on what we had been doing,” he said.
According to a February 2021 report by Accentuate, 5G enabled factories can see up to 2O-30% in overall productivity gains including improvement of 50% in assemble time 20% in asset life ,and 90% in defect detection.
“These are only a few examples to show how 5G can have a positive impact on our economy,” Pantami explained.
Regulatory assistance
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission ,NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, in his closing remarks thanked all who contributed towards the deployment of 5G in the country and promised that the NCC would give them all the necessary regulatory assistance needed to fully deploy the 5G network in the country.
The Director General, National Identity Management Commission NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, said the success of the implementation of the policy will largely depend of good collaboration between all stakeholders in the country.
“The success of the policy will largely depend on us; working closely together and building stronger partnerships to develop our nation and also grow the economy,” he said.
The Director General Galaxy Back Bone, Professor Mohammed Abubarka, said the deployment of 5G and the implementation of the nation’s digital policy will help to achieve President Buhari’s government’s transparency and boost the economy.
Abubakar adds that the deployment of 5G networks and the implementation of the national digital policy will also serve as a catalyst for achieving the core objectives in the 3 focus areas of President Muhammadu Buhari led government;the Economy,Security and Transparency.
Lateefah Ibrahim
