The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will hold a simulated auction of the 5G network on Friday, in preparation for the major sale on Monday, December 13, 2021, at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
The two spots available for auction are expected to be filled by successful buyers at the main auction.
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, gave the hint on Thursday at a one-day Media Capacity-Building Workshop titled “5G Technology and the Next Level of Nigeria’s Development” organized by the Commission and The Cable Newspaper in Lagos for journalists.
“The scene will be set for the 5G roll-out, which will begin in 2022,” stated the EVC, who was represented by Mr. Anthony Ikemefuna, Head of Fixed Network and Converged Services Unit.
Allaying fears of the health impact of the 5G network, Prof Danbatta stated that, with all available information, nothing has been able to show that masts are dangerous to public health.
In his presentation on the topic titled: ” Setting The Stage for 5G Journey; Requirements, Deployment, and Challenges, Danbatta opined that, if masts are dangerous to public health, most Nigerians would have been adversely affected healthwise right from the days of 1G, 2G 3G networks, stressing that the radiation from the “090” network used in the late 80s, was even much more than what we have today.
As a result, Danbatta asserted that, contrary to popular belief, 5G is not the source of the coronavirus pandemic.
Explaining further on the impact of the 5G network on health, the EVC said “there are no specifically proven evidence of any negative impact on human health associated with radiation from mobile networks, including 5G”.
“The following organizations: World Health Organisation (WHO), UK Advisory Group and Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR), The Institute for Engineering and Technology (IET), International Commission for Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIP) were very clear to the effect that radiation from mobile networks and devices including 5G has no known or scientifically proven negative health impact,” he emphasized.
Danbatta added that “given the densification of cell sites that will arise as a result of 5G deployment, the Commission will need to effectively collaborate with other relevant government agencies such as the National Assembly (NASS), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and National Orientation Agencies,” assuring that electromagnetic radiation emissions from 5G networks are far safer than previous generations of mobile networks.
