Regulator announces opening of 35GHz, 42GHz spectrums for licensing

folarin okunola

May 9, 2016 9:29 AM

NCC deputy director, Spectrum Administration, Mr. Toyin Asaju, said the 38 GHz band is the range of Electromagnetic Frequency spectrum that falls within 37GHz to 39.5GHz.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, NCC CEO/EVC

Media reports reveal that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed plans to open up 38 GHz and 42 GHz spectrums bands for operators in Nigeria.

According to the NCC, the plan is part of measures to address the challenge of spectrum shortages in the country, adding that it would however, re-plan the 23 GHz Microwave Spectrum band, which already exists.

Nigeria CommunicationWeek reports that the commission has however, called for stakeholder's input within the next four weeks in the process that will lead to the final determination of the entire licensing exercise.

NCC deputy director, Spectrum Administration, Mr. Toyin Asaju, 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, and supports an extremely high degree of frequency reuse due to high directivity of Antennas.

READ: Regulator denies plans to ban Value Added Services (VAS)

While listing the various benefits of the whole process to include availability of brand new spectrums; reduction on the pressure of existing microwave (flexibility) bands; improvement on all forms of services (broadband, data, etc.) and removal of network conjestion, which will subsequently result in improved quality of service, Asaju said the 38GHz band has broad bandwidth, suitable for broadband deployment.

Asaju added that the 38 GHz band has been bench marked against standards from Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Qatar, according to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.

For the 42 GHz band, Asaju said, based on the recommendations of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the band would have 16 channels of 56MHz each; 1500 MHz duplex separation and 604 MHz Duplex gap.

The NCC executive, speaking on the guideline for the use of the band in Nigeria, said potential users must obtain an operational license duly issued by the commission; 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.

Stay with Pulse Tech for more information on the activities and updates from the NCC.

folarin okunola