Federal Government has approved the National Policy on the fifth-generation (5G) network in Nigeria.
This is according to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who addressed journalists in Abuja after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
He explained that the benefits that accrue from using the 5G network include larger capacity, higher data rates, among others.
Pantami stressed;
Mine is a memo which I presented before the Federal Executive Council, which has also been approved after deliberation. That is the National Policy on Fifth Generation Networks for Nigeria’s digital economy, the national policy on 5G.
That policy has been approved by the Federal Executive Council today. Furthermore, the policy discusses the benefits to be attained through the deployment of 5G in Nigeria and in any part of the world which includes lower latency, larger capacity, and higher data rate.
He added;
These are the three major benefits of the fifth-generation (network). In a simple language, we can say it will open many opportunities economically, academically, educationally and even in the health sector. It will also support our security institutions, particularly in areas where they need high-quality services.
The statement added that the implementation of the National Policy is with immediate effect, stressing;
The National Policy has been developed over a period of 2 years, due to the need for extensive stakeholder engagement and the need to ensure adequate public awareness and sensitisation.
The stakeholder engagement was thorough and multi-sectoral. It also took into account the report of the 3-month 5G trials that commenced on the 25th of November 2019.
The report critically reviewed and studied the health and security implications of deploying 5G in Nigeria.
The Minister stressed;
Leading international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an organ of the United Nations, have confirmed that the deployment of 5G networks leave no adverse health effect and are safe.
The ministry said 5G networks “offer significant advantages over the current technologies.”
It added;
Some of its advantages include much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility. Several countries have already commenced the deployment of 5G and are enjoying its benefits.
It listed countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, South Africa and Lesotho, currently operating on the network.
Last month, Pantami said the decision to deploy the 5G network followed an outcome of thorough investigations, research and trial absolving it of posing security or health threat.
He explained that the work on the national policy on 5G stands at 95 percent done and will be presented to the federal executive council (FEC) for approval.
