The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, Dr Aminu Maida,has said Nigeria is set to join the league of countries already utilizing part of the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi -6 applications.
This, he said will enhance WIFI connectivity,and ensure that broadband service is more accessible to individuals, homes and offices across Nigeria.
Dr Maida disclosed this in his speech of at the Annual Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies held in Lagos on September 19, 2024.The EVC speech was delivered to industry stakeholders at the event by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Engr. Abraham Oshadami.
Dr. Maida said the existing spectrums, including 5G and 2G, were becoming congested due to increasing demand, hence the need for efficient management and utilization of spectrum resources.
According to him,introduction of Wi-Fi 6 is expected to increase capacity, enabling seamless connectivity for emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
He said “Guided by our actions in the right direction and, of course, that of the Federal Government through the Ministers Strategic Blueprint cantered around knowledge policies, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and Capital as well Trade, we have been able to set the ball rolling to enhance telecommunication service delivery in Nigeria.
“In line with one of the key factors on collaboration as outlined in our focus areas and the Commission’s traditionally institutionalized policy of participatory regulation and the practice of industry-wide consultations in conducting its regulatory functions, we are here again to elicit your comments and inputs on the use of the 6GHz for Wi-Fi – 6 and International Mobile Telecommunications (MT).
“In line with global best practices, we sincerely believe that our actions must be guided by decisions that take into cognizance the inputs from all stakeholders in the industry. 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. However, the 5GHz and 2.4GHz that are being used for Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5) at the moment are becoming overwhelmed due to an increase in demand for capacity. It is, therefore, imperative to identify other frequency bands to complement the 5GHz and 2.4GHz.
The NCC Boss added that the recently concluded 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23) allocated the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi and IMT applications with different recommendations on how to use the band.
“This was the outcome of a long study cycle process leading to the decision at the WRC-2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Today, we present to you our thoughts and recommendations on the use of the Spectrum band to get your feedback for informed decision-making. I welcome you all and wish you a fruitful deliberations” he concluded.
