NCC fights for Nigeria’s share of $13.2trn 5G economic gains

Nigeria’s Telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has continued to advance efforts towards ensuring that Nigeria does not miss out on the huge economic benefits promised by 5G technology.

This played out again on Tuesday in the address of Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman of the NCC, while addressing the Abuja chapter of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) at a capacity-building training the NCC organized for the tech journalists.

Danbatta disabused the mind of Nigerians of misinformation about 5G which could deny the country its fair share of $13.2 trillion economic value that experts said 5G technology will be adding to global economy by 2035.

According to the EVC, a lot of falsehoods and misinformation have been peddled both on online and traditional media outlets about the health and safety implications of deploying 5G technology.

Danbatta quoted recent landmark economy study conducted by Qualcomm to have found that 5G will affect the global economy and drive growth exponentially.

In specific term, he said 5G’s full economic effect will likely be realized across the globe by 2035.

The technology will be supporting a wide range of industries and potentially enabling up to $13.2 trillion worth of goods and services.

“This impact will be much greater than the current 4G network,” he said.

Isa Pantami, Communications and Digital Economy Minister and Prof. Umar Danbatta, EVC of NCC

He added that 5G, when fully deployed, will provide increased speed and bandwidth as well as provide deeper coverage to reach people in rural or challenging locations.

“In addition, 5G will provide strong security for the various sectors of government and private organizations.

“Due to its sheer scale and scope, the ITU predicts 5G will accelerate the achievements of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) from affordable and clean energy to zero hunger,” he said.

The NCC sounded warning note that the misinformation and misrepresentation of 5G technology has the potential of derailing the launch or implementation of the new technology in Nigeria.

He said many Nigerians and citizens in more civilized countries were hooked on the notion that the introduction of 5G technology was the reason behind the spread of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic.

According to him, this misconception was even made worse because those saddled with the responsibility of informing, educating and enlightening the average Nigerian telecom consumers were also bereft of the knowledge of the new technology and hitched a ride on the bandwagon of doubters.

“This is the reason why training such as this is necessary for members of NITRA who have continued to cover the ICT industry in Nigeria.

“We will ensure that the NCC maintains this training periodically for our crucial stakeholders in the media to ensure that the information that reaches the average Nigerian is accurate and timely.

“It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that whatever we want to introduce to the Nigerian telecoms space is well understood by Nigerians and all those who make use of our telecoms services.

“The onus is on all of us here today to make sure that we take this training seriously and take advantage of it to expand on our horizons.

“This is very necessary so that when we report events or activities relating to the industry, we are able to translate them into a language that the common man will readily understand.

“The Commission will continue to support capacity building and other initiatives which foster closer interaction and build stronger relationship with your members.

“I therefore enjoin you to continue to be objective in your reportage to ensure that all our stakeholders benefit from the knowledge you will acquire during this meaningful training programme.