Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed plans to open up the 38 GHz and 42 GHz spectrums bands for operators in Nigeria while also unveiling its intention to re-plan the 23 GHz Microwave Spectrum band, which is already in existence.
This move, according to NCC, is part of measures to address the challenge of spectrum shortages in the country, adding that it is however, calling for stakeholders input within the next four weeks in the process that will lead to the final determination of the entire licensing exercise.
In the welcome address delivered by Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs NCC who represented the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC Prof. Umar Danbatta, he said the commission as a world class communications regulatory organisation sincerely believe that its actions must be guided by decisions that take cognisance of the inputs of stakeholders.
‘The emerging trend in the telecommunications market in Nigeria today is broadband which will certainly require massive deployments in term of critical infrastructure if we are to achieve the set target of government for 38% Broadband penetration by the year 2018.
The growth in broadband traffic is on the increase and therefore additional spectrum resources would be required to avoid network challenges.
It is therefore paramount to take proactive measures to curb the impending challenges. The opening up of the 38 and 42GHz bands for use in Nigeria and the re-planning of the 23GHz Microwave Spectrum band is one of such measures’ he said.
Mr. Toyin Asaju, NCC’s deputy director, Spectrum Administration, while speaking at a Stakeholders Consultative Forum on the Licensing in Lagos, said the 38 GHz band is the range of Electromagnetic Frequency spectrum that falls within 37GHz to 39.5GHz, which supports an extremely high degree of frequency reuse due to high directivity of Antennas.
While listing the benefit of the whole process to include availability of brand new spectrum; reduction on the pressure of existing microwave (flexibility) bands; improvement on all forms of services (broadband, data, among others) and removal of network conjections, which will subsequently result in improved quality of service, Asaju said the 38GHz band has broad bandwidth, suitable for broadband deployment, which can enhance the utilization of Green Field Spectrum band.
He added that the 38 GHz band has been bench marked against standards from Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Qatar.
On the 42 GHz band, which ranges between 40.5GHz to 43.5GHz, Asaju said, based on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendation, the band would have 16 channels of 56MHz each; 1500 MHz duplex separation and 604 MHz Duplex gap.
Speaking on the guideline for the use of the band in Nigeria, Asaju said potential user must obtain an operational license duly issued by the commission; potential user must apply for spectrum license to use 38 and 42 GHz spectrum bands and that licenses for this bands will be granted on a non-exclusive link by link basis.
