NCC moves to enhance internet services in Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to harness the 6GHz spectrum’s potential for enhanced Wi-Fi 6 to address Nigeria’s growing broadband needs and enhance internet services in the country.

NaijaOnPoint.com.ng (NOP) reports Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC disclosed this during a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies in Lagos State on Thursday, stressing that the Commission has made a significant progress in that direction.

Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at NCC, Abraham Oshadami, said the move would address growing demand for high-speed internet. He said that the current 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands are facing capacity constraints.

Maida said that Nigeria would be joining the league of countries already utilising part of the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi -6 applications.

“The 6GHz band, spanning from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz, offers a substantial increase in available spectrum, which is crucial for supporting the growing demand for high-speed internet and advanced applications.

“Wi-Fi plays a crucial role in the distribution of fixed broadband connectivity in homes, offices, and various other environments. The vast majority of home internet traffic is connected to the end-user through Wi-Fi.

“In enterprise settings, Wi-Fi is essential for handling large amounts of data and simultaneously connecting large numbers of devices with improved reliability, higher data throughput and lower latencies,” Maida said.

Similarly, the Head, Spectrum Administration, NCC, Atiku Lawal, said that the overcrowded airwaves were currently limiting the potential of Wi-Fi in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Lawal said that it was not a surprise that more than seventy countries had already acted, or were considering acting on opening the 6GHz band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use.

“Depending upon the country’s implementation plan, this decision will provide two to three times the quantum of spectrum available today. It will result in the ability to implement 80MHz and 160 MHz channels being available for the new Wi-Fi 6 standard ideal to support digital transformation efforts and use cases like high definition video and X Reality (XR).

“The commission’s decision to open the 6GHz frequency band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use is poised to revolutionise broadband connectivity in Nigeria. This move will significantly enhance internet services, providing faster and more reliable connections.

“With the advent of Wi-Fi 6, users can expect higher data rates and increased capacity, making it ideal for high-demand environments such as stadiums, airports and offices. By offloading devices from cellular networks to Wi-Fi 6, the NCC aims at improving overall quality of service, alleviating capacity constraints and boosting broadband penetration in Nigeria,” Lawal said.

While commending the NCC, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, pleaded with the Federal Government to assist operators in upgrading to the new spectrum. He said the appeal was coming because  operators were struggling to expand their networks.

Adebayo, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, ALTON, Gbolahan Awonuga, said: “The ICT industry has done a lot for the country and I believe the sector should not be neglected.

“We are not isolated from the harsh financial ecosystem. We need money to upgrade our infrastructure and import equipment, so as for us to benefit from the 6GHz. Our members are struggling to expand their infrastructure. We appeal to the federal government to come to our aid,” Adebayo said.