2nd December, 2022
By Aisha Ahmed
Prof. Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said that the Federal Government has generated over $500 million from the 5G spectrum license auction.
He stated this at a news conference on the implication of the unauthorised use and sale of private mobile radio, on Friday in Kano.
Represented by Dr Famous Eseduwo, Director, Human Resources in the ministry, Pantami said the 5G Spectrum could support Nigeria’s economy if well managed.
The minister said, “Spectrum licence is required to transmit radio waves within assigned spectrum so that the economic benefits can be harnessed.
“When the 5G network is deployed, the benefits are huge and create opportunities to engender accelerated growth and smart living in the country.
“The technology is also expected to bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility, capacity, and low latency capabilities.
“5G networks will play an integral part in speeding up wireless communication, enabling virtual reality, and connecting millions of devices we use today,” he said.
Pantami described the 5G spectrum as a critical national asset and warned against its misuse, saying, “The control of Spectrum is vested with the federal government, in line with the constitution”.
As a result, he advised Nigerians to obtain an appropriate license from the Federal Ministry of Communications to protect themselves from revenue loss, warning that unauthorised users would face prosecution.
NAN