Digital Techs: How 3.5GHz Spectrum auction will democratise Broadband for Nigerians –Danbatta

*Prof. Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission restates the ongoing 3.5GHz Spectrum auction process for the deployment of 5G networks is in top gear, as Brand Journalists confer ‘The Regulator of the Decade’ Award on the telecoms sector regulatory Commission in Lagos

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated that the ongoing process to auction two additional lots in the 3.5GHz Spectrum band for Fifth Generation (5G) networks is part of efforts at further democratising access to high-speed mobile Broadband for all Nigerians.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, said this at the weekend, in Lagos, while speaking at the 10th Annual Brands and Marketing Conference of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN).

ConsumerConnect reports the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria conferred the “Regulator of the Decade” Award on the telecoms sector regulatory Commission at the event.

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Represented by Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management at NCC, Prof. Danbatta noted that the ongoing process, for which arrangements for the next phase of the Spectrum auction are in top gear, following the successful auctioning of two bands of the 3.5GHz spectrum December 2021.

Review of existing Broadband licences, frameworks

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, at the weekend stated the NCC’s EVC/CEO also disclosed that the Commission is currently reviewing the licences and frameworks for fixed Broadband to update them in line with current challenges.

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According to him, the effort is aimed at making them more effective as part of the pivotal initiatives deployed by NCC that are already bearing fruits.

Danbatta emphasised the telecoms sector regulator, in pursuit of its mandate, has been relentless in creating the conducive atmosphere for the rollout and adoption of new technologies.

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The Federal Government, he further stated, has taken a firm position that Nigeria must leverage digital technologies to grow the economy.

Subsequently, the NCC, other regulatory agencies and partners are assiduously implementing the development of policies, such as the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 and Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, said the EVC/CEO.

Leveraging digital technologies to build Nigeria’s global brands

Danbatta as well informed the participants at the conference that content creation and consumption have grown around the telecommunications infrastructure provided by technology in the West African country.

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The NCC Chief declared that the Nigerian entertainers have leveraged opportunities on these digital platforms to become global brands in the ecosystem.

He said: “Due to heavy leverage on digital platforms, the Nigerian entertainment industry has gone global. “Nollywood is one of the biggest movie industries in the world.

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“In fact, more movies are produced by Nollywood yearly in comparison to Hollywood.”

Danbatta also disclosed that “Nigerian music stars are in hot demand worldwide because of their popularity and brand recognition on social media.

“We should add that many of these global superstars emerging from Nigeria launched into stardom by leveraging Caller Tunes and other mobile content platforms to grow their brands and huge followers online.”

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The Commission’s Executive Vice-Chairman noted: “Digital platforms are fostering different types of systemic change, creating new brands, eroding the value of some brands, whilst at the same time increasing the value of other brands.

“The innovation-transformation-disruption cycle has come to stay and will be exacerbated as technology continues to evolve.”

NCC’s commitment to driving new digital technologies

Danbatta left the impressive audience with reasons to be hopeful, as  he said: “Let me assure you that the NCC will continue to aggressively drive the roll out and seamless operation of infrastructure to drive new digital technologies for the benefit of all sectors of our economy.

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“It is our hope that Nigerian brands will continue to leverage on robust infrastructure to grow their value and ensure that our country derives maximum benefit from unfolding digital transformation efforts.”

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