News
Botched 5G services and the Wi-Fi 6 gamble
By Sonny Aragba-Akpore
When fully implemented,Fifth Generation (5G) technology and services will transform the telecommunications landscape in Nigeria like nothing else before it,Isa Pantami,the immediate past Communications and Digital Economy Minister boasted on the eve of the 5G auction three years ago.He spoke with certainty and confidence.
And like in a relay race,the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),Umar Garba Danbatta took the baton and began the spirited advocacy building frenzied hypes around the auction.
Pantami had allegedly misled President Mohammadu Buhari, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and everyone else in the country to believe that 5G will provide life abundance with unbelievable internet speed like lightening.
The first auction saw MTN and Mafab Communications limited (a Special Purpose Vehicle) winning two available lots at a bid price of $273.6m each.
A little over a year later,Airtel Africa got a third lot thus completing the experimental triumvirate.
But that is where the story of 5G ends so much that even the people at NCC cannot in all sincerity beat their chests to say 5G exists and will gladly list it as part of their achievements.
If it exists at all,it is better imagined because nothing is being said about it either on earth or elsewhere.
5G networks are not visible.Perhaps it is available and in use by an insignificant fraction of the population.
Even the licence beneficiaries speak about it in subdued tones and perhaps see the investment like it’s often said in local parlance as “bad market “.
Elsewhere in Africa,some countries are in the race and even though they are yet to fully achieve meaningful milestones,there are strong indications that they are coasting home to victory in this race.Not yet in Nigeria.
The India example is exemplary.Perhaps,many countries should visit India and ask them how they were able to achieve the milestones especially in a country of over 1.428 billion population.
The Indian regulator created a workable template introducing a business model that allows beneficiaries of the bid to stagger license fees payments over a period of 10 years to enable them deploy services sensing that equipment and infrastructure for 5G is not a walk in the park.
And the operators appreciate that move.
But in Nigeria,the people who midwifed 5G did it to raise money for government and allegedly made some consultants smile to the bank after collecting their well appointed commissions.
And now neither the license beneficiaries nor the people they are supposed to serve have anything to show for all the troubles.
But while consumers are in a dilemma waiting for when the services will ever come,the NCC on September 19,2024 announced in Lagos another experiment if not a gamble.
It is introducing Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi 6) which they claim will bridge the digital divide whereby the speed of internet will be “amazing.”
Globally,Wi-Fi 6 is not new.It has taken root in parts of the world including the United States,(USA),South Korea,Canada,U.K and many others.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) created workable templates for it some of which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the USA had adopted with a home grown modification.
So if Nigeria adopts it,the question is how prepared is the regulator in Abuja to manage it for the benefit of consumers.?Will it be another hype like we saw in 5G?
Speeches and more speeches were made on September 19,2024 in Lagos on the subject with a number of participants having their reservations if not misgivings.
When the NCC conducted the 5G
auction of two lots of 100 MHz slots of 3.5 GHz band for the deployment of 5G networks in
Nigeria it was done with funfare likened to bazaar of sorts.
Three companies participated in the auction process and the bidding commenced at $199.37m, as against the reserve price of $197.4m (75 billion naira) set by the NCC
After 11 rounds of bidding, the auction ended at $273.6m for each available lot with MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN) and Mafab Communications Limited (Mafab) emerging as preferred bidders.
And the preferred bidders were
expected to pay the winning bid price, less the Intention-to-Bid Deposit, no later than February 24,2022.
MTN was to pay an additional sum of $15.9m to be assigned the preferred Lot One (3500-3600
MHz), while Mafab was assigned Lot Two (3700-3800 MHz), at no extra cost.
In addition, Mafab was required to acquire a Unified Access Service License, which is the operational license for the frequency spectrum at an additional fee of N374.6m (approximately $905,000 then).
The Information Memorandum (IM) provided for a validity period of 10 years for the awarded
spectrum and further requires licensees to roll out service in at least one state in each geo-political zone within the first two years from the effective date of the license. Further roll out was expected in six additional states in the 3rd and 5th years.
The technology is expected to have been fully deployed nationwide between the 6th and 10th year of the award of the license. Roll out in each state was expected to be a minimum of five sites per state.
The Federal Government earned $820.8 million from the auctioning of the 5G licence processes.
Pantami who said it was a game changer told President Muhammadu Buhari administration then that 5G will make a world of difference.
According to Pantami , in addition to the revenue generated from the 5G spectrum, revenue is being generated from other spectrum fees. “For example, in 2020, N26,428,642,451.61 was generated as spectrum fees.”
“MTN, Mafab and Airtel all have participated in the auction process and each obtained a lot of 100 MHz from the 3.5GHz spectrum after successfully participating in the auction process.The story has not gone beyond that.
Now another experiment,the Wi fi 6 which ITU says could be accessed on the 5925–7125 Megahertz (MHZ) band, and is designed to deliver optimized performance for next-generation use cases.
As with any wireless technology, Wi‑Fi depends on access to radio frequency spectrum. But a lack of spectrum threatens future Wi‑Fi performance and functionality.
“ Policymakers, recognizing this, are expanding Wi‑Fi spectrum access with a focus on the 5925–7125 megahertz (MHz), or 6 gigahertz (GHz), frequency band. Opening this band to Wi‑Fi will enable a wide range of new use cases,”ITU submits.
These — combined with expanded broadband access via fibre or satellite — promise to deliver versatile and extremely affordable connectivity. This makes Wi‑Fi an ideal force multiplier for connectivity.
ITU explains that the case for allowing Wi‑Fi services in the 5925–7125 MHz band is clear and compelling, with 6 GHz Wi‑Fi already delivering real socio-economic benefits in many countries.
“The diverse and growing product ecosystem for 6 GHz Wi‑Fi fits perfectly with broadband objectives in developed and developing countries — and without disrupting incumbent operations.”
Granting Wi‑Fi access to the 5925–7125 MHz band would be the best way to maximize the socio-economic value of this spectrum. Conversely, 6 GHz IMT “vaporware” looks far from achieving commercial feasibility, particularly given a total absence of equipment at this stage.”
The ITU says in Real-World Speed and practical real-world scenarios, WiFi 5 typically provides speeds ranging from 300 Megabit per second (Mbps) to 1.7 Gbps. “On the other hand, WiFi 6 can provide speeds ranging from 600 Mbps to 4.8 Gbps or more in real-world usage.”
According to ITU,”Wi-Fi 6 is the latest standard from the Wi-Fi Alliance based on the 802.11ax protocol, and provides critical capabilities needed for next generation enterprise requirements. “
Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the latest generation and standard for wireless networking that replaces the 802.11ac, or Wi-Fi 5, standard. Prior to the release of Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi standards were identified by version numbers ranging from 802.11b to 802.11ac.
Wifi 6 is capable of connecting no fewer than eight devices simultaneously and creates a seamless connection to these devices at minimal costs.
Despite the beauty and robustness of Wi-Fi 6,there are drawbacks .
“If iPhone is older than the iPhone 11, it can’t use Wi-Fi 6. But there are other ways to make your phone’s internet run as fast as possible.
An older laptop won’t be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6 either. A Wi-Fi 6 router will still work with older devices, you just won’t enjoy all the benefits listed above.”ITU submits.
When he spoke at the NCC Yearly Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies in Lagos last week,Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) Abraham Oshadami told his audience that “Wi-Fi-6 represents a significant leap in wireless technology. It offers an opportunity to support more devices with faster speed and greater reliability.” adding that “this is particularly strategic in a world increasingly dominated by the Internet of Things (IoT), where everything from smart homes to advanced industrial systems depends on robust wireless connectivity.”
Oshadami said that the deployment in the lower 6GHz band is not just about faster internet; “it’s about enabling the next generation of technological innovation and economic growth.”
Oshadami,with a measure of confidence went memory lane saying “throughout the last ITU Radiocommunications (ITU-R) Sector study cycle, experts discussed, amongst many other things, the use of Wi-Fi in the lower 6GHz Spectrum Band and made recommendations that were subsequently finalized at the 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23) where the 6GHz Spectrum Band was allocated for Wi-Fi and IMT applications.”
He said prior to the 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference, African Telecommunications Union (ATU) had already concluded its decision on the 6GHz Spectrum Band and recommended that administrations in Africa adopt the lower 6GHz for Wi-Fi-6 applications. “This decision was taken to WRC-23 and at the end of the day, Africa came out victorious. Having played a vital role in securing this spectrum for Wi-Fi deployment, it has become imperative to open the frequency for deployment of Wi-Fi Application.
However, as a world class organisation and in the spirit of participatory regulation, we cannot sit down in our offices and make unilateral decisions without the input of our stakeholders” hence the consultative forum on emerging technologies.
Although it is not clear when services on Wi-Fi 6 will flag off and modalities for licences to be issued or whether it will be an open market for all comers,there are strong indications that licensing may be very flexible especially with regards to assignment of the frequency to power the system.
But the question that is on the lips of service providers and the enthusiastic consumers is whether this will not go the way of 5G?
Time will tell.
By Gloria Ikibah
Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, has urged West African countries to draw lessons from Nigeria’s experience with farmer-herder conflicts and the humanitarian crises arising from them.
First Deputy Speaker made the call in a presentation titled, “Strategies for addressing internal displacement and farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria”, delivered on his behalf by Senator Sadiq Umar during the Second Extraordinary Session and Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, Ghana.
He said Nigeria’s experience offered important lessons for the region and the African continent, particularly in addressing conflicts linked to competition for land and water.
According to him, Nigeria has extensive agricultural and pastoral economies, with a large proportion of the population depending on farming and livestock production for their livelihoods.
He, however, said increasing pressure on land and water resources had contributed to conflicts, banditry, terrorism and other humanitarian disasters.
Barau said the Federal Government had introduced measures to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflicts, including the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
He said the ministry was, among other responsibilities, established to manage emergency relief operations and responses to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He said: “Nigeria’s approach is increasingly consistent with the international shift from short-term humanitarian response towards government-led development-orientated solutions.
“Nigeria is also one of the countries selected under the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internally Displaced and Focused National Pathways towards Durable Solutions.
“Nigeria’s commitment to the protection of internally displaced persons has also been strengthened through its engagement with the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, commonly known as the Kampala Convention”.
Despite these interventions, Barau expressed concern that the crisis had continued to defy efforts to resolve it, with more than three million Nigerians still living in internally displaced persons’ camps across the country.
He argued that internal displacement should not be regarded as the sole responsibility of humanitarian agencies, but should involve coordinated action by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), traditional institutions and other stakeholders.
First Deputy Speaker also called for greater attention to early warning systems, conflict prevention mechanisms and climate adaptation as part of efforts to prevent conflicts before they escalate.
He said livestock should not be viewed merely as a security issue but also as an important economic sector capable of contributing to livelihoods and national development.
According to him, investment in ranching, animal feeding and breeding could help reduce some of the pressures associated with uncontrolled livestock movement.
Barau also urged ECOWAS parliamentarians to develop appropriate legislative frameworks for the protection of displaced persons and the regulation of land and livestock management.
“Parliamentary committees should conduct evidence-based oversight of government programmes and expenditure relating to displacement, security, agriculture, livestock and reconstruction,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s experience had shown that internal displacement and farmer-herder conflicts were complex challenges that could not be resolved through isolated interventions.
The Senator said effective implementation of policies and programmes was equally important to ensuring that farmers and herders could pursue their lawful and productive livelihoods without unnecessary conflict.
Barau’s presentation focused on Nigeria’s internal security challenges and their socio-economic consequences, while urging other countries in the region to focus more on preventing similar crises rather than waiting to respond after they occur.
“For Africa, the challenge extends beyond responding to crises after they occur, it requires building resilient institutions, economies and communities capable of preventing conflicts and protracted displacement.
“As parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to support appropriate legislation, strengthen oversight, promote inclusive dialogue and ensure that public resources are directed towards sustainable solutions,” he added.
By Gloria Ikibah
Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and member of Ghana’s delegation, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called on parliamentarians to remain close to the people they represent and ensure that regional integration delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Afenyo-Markin made the call during the ongoing Second Extraordinary Session and Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, Ghana, where he formally handed over his responsibilities to George Kweku-Ricketts Hagan of Cape Coast South, following the completion of his tenure.
The outgoing Deputy Speaker said regional integration must go beyond treaties, protocols and meetings among institutions, insisting that its impact must be visible in the daily lives of citizens across West Africa.
“Regional integration must be understood beyond treaties, protocols and meetings of institutions. Its true value must be felt in our communities, in the opportunities available to our young people, in the movement of our citizens and businesses across borders,” he said.
He said no single member state could successfully confront the challenges facing the region alone, stressing the need for collective action and stronger regional cooperation.
Afenyo-Markin also drew attention to the connection between climate change, poverty and insecurity in the region.
He said climate change could intensify existing pressures, worsen poverty, increase competition over land and water resources and threaten livelihoods.
He, however, cautioned against attributing every conflict in the region to climate change, urging policymakers to understand the relationship between environmental stress and insecurity without oversimplifying complex conflicts.
The outgoing Deputy Speaker also highlighted the importance of taking parliamentary activities beyond national capitals as part of efforts to bring regional institutions closer to the people.
He recalled the parliamentary seminar held in Congo Town, Liberia, in 2019 and the decision to take parliamentary activities to Winneba, the capital of his constituency, in 2021.
According to him, the initiative demonstrated the importance of taking the parliament to communities rather than limiting its activities to traditional political centres.
“Winneba subsequently hosted parliamentary activities on four occasions by 2024,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin said the visits provided residents with opportunities to interact directly with the regional institution, including traditional rulers, members of the business community, young people and the University of Education, Winneba.
“We must from time to time, leave the familiar surroundings of our national capital and meet our citizens where they live,” he said.
He noted that the approach had subsequently been extended to other locations, including Kano and Port Harcourt in Nigeria.
The lawmaker, who took time to highlight some of his contributions to his constituency and the wider region, said greater engagement with citizens remained central to strengthening the relevance of the ECOWAS Parliament.
At the handover ceremony, Afenyo-Markin expressed confidence in his successor, describing Hagan as a worthy parliamentarian with the experience required for the responsibility.
“He is a worthy member of Parliament, who I believe will succeed me in this responsibility. He is bringing his experience in parliamentary diplomacy and an understanding of regional integration to the role.
“Leadership is ultimately about service and continuity,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He also pledged his continued support to the ECOWAS Parliament, assuring that Ghana’s delegation would continue to contribute meaningfully to the work of the regional legislature.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, has described Ghana’s decision to elect a woman as Vice-President as an inspiration for women and girls across West Africa.
Speaker Ibrahima stated this when she met Ghana’s Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on the sidelines of the ongoing Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar in Accra.
She expressed appreciation to the Vice-President for receiving her and for the speech she delivered at the opening of the parliamentary proceedings.
Ibrahima also commended President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, saying the country’s choice to have a woman occupy the vice presidency sent an important message across the region.
She said: “By entrusting the vice presidency to a woman, Ghana sends a powerful message to our entire region: that Africa believes in women’s leadership. Her journey is an inspiration to millions of young girls”.
The meeting also focused on the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament and its core responsibilities, including issuing opinions on matters referred to it, examining the Community’s budget and conducting oversight missions.
The two leaders further discussed issues affecting young people across the region, particularly the harmonisation of curricula and mutual recognition of academic diplomas among ECOWAS member states.
Ibrahima said making it possible for qualifications obtained in one ECOWAS country to be recognised in another will strengthen regional integration and make free movement more meaningful.
She said a graduate from Lomé, Abuja or Dakar should be able to have their skills recognised in Accra, describing such recognition as an important step towards building an ECOWAS of the Peoples.
The Speaker thanked the Ghanaian authorities for their hospitality and the organisation of the parliamentary session.
The meeting forms part of the ECOWAS Parliament’s engagement with regional leaders as the institution marks its 25th anniversary and pursues integration priorities, including youth mobility and the recognition of academic qualifications across West Africa.
Rt. Hon. Ibrahima is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament since its establishment in 2000, having been elected to lead the sixth legislature in May 2024.
Ecoparl: Senator Barau Urges ECOWAS to Tackle Root Causes of Farmer-herder Conflicts
ECOWAS Parliament Must Stay Close to Citizens – Afenyo-Markin
Speaker Ibrahima Hails Ghana’s Female Vice Presidency, Pushes Diploma Recognition
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