By Segun Fatuase
As the Nigerian Communications
Commission(NCC) shifted the auction date of the 5G network to December 13, 2021,Telecommunications Operators (Telcos) have opted for an auction reserve price of $50 million.
Similarly, Director of Spectrum Administration of NCC, Engineer Oluwatoyin Asaju disclosed that a reserve price of average of $100 million US dollars for 3.5-3.6 and 3.7-3.8 had been fixed for intending Telecommunications .
He asserted at the Stakeholders Consultative Forum on the draft information memorandum for 3.5Ghz spectrum auction held in Lagos today that, as a condition, telecom operators are also expected to make a 10 percent reserve price deposit .
Contributing, the Project Director of Mobile Telecommunications of Nigeria (MTN), Engineer Abraham Orisadare, who made a presentation on behalf of the Telecoms said an auction reserve price of $50 million is preferable by the Telcos.
Besides,he said staggered payment option should be accepted by the NCC in view of the prevailing economic situations in the country.
The balance he said should be paid over a 5year period taking into consideration the effect of Covid-19 on the industry and the economy.
The Telcos are also canvassing for a 20 -year duration for the renewal of licenses in the bid
to promote efficiency in the sector.
However, NCC insists that each of the service providers should roll out in each if the six geo political zones of the country for effective and widespread reach of services.
The Stakeholders Consultative Forum was held in the bid to quicken the implementation of the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology Deployment Plan in the country.
The 5G technology is expected to facilitate several emerging technologies, generate innovative new use cases, spur significant socio-economic growth and create jobs.
Earlier, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde had stated that the forum would afford industry stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the draft Information Memorandum (IM) for the upcoming auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band.
He aded that the decision to host the stakeholder engagement was in keeping with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and NCC’s distinctive tradition of robust stakeholder consultation on all telecom regulation-related issues.
Last June, the commission inaugurated a committee to develop the IM for the auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum band, which will be utilized for early deployment of 5G technology services in the country.
