MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Mafab Communications Ltd have passed the blue litmus test to participate in the final bid for spectrum that will be used to deploy the fifth generation (5G) technology in the country.
This is coming nine days to the mock auction of lots in the 3.5gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum designated for the deployment of the technology in the country.
According to the NCC’s Information Memorandum (IM), while the mock auction is scheduled for December 10, final auction will hold December 13 in Abuja.
A source in the Commission said the three firms met all the conditions stated in the IM especially Sections 1 (e), VII {(i) (ii), (v) (3) (c)} and XI (e) which the Commission had earlier drawn special attention to.
The Director, Public Affairs at the Commission, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, also confirmed that the auction will hold as scheduled notwithstanding the global fear over a new strain of COVID-19 known as Omicon.
“There’s no going back on the auction. The Commission will go ahead. All hands are on deck to see the process through,” he said.
The Commission yesterday also said the second trial of 5G in Nigeria in order to validate the “National Policy on 5G for Digital Economy” scheduled for today has been postponed indefinitely.
The NCC had in a notice on its website said it will “supervise the second 5G PoC trial in Nigeria. This trial will be conducted by Airtel Networks Limited and its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) on Thursday, December 2, 2021”.
The Commission had slated December 13, 2021 as the final auction date for the spectrum auction while deployment is expected to happen in first quarter (Q1) next year, according to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
The Commission had also extended the timeline for submission of responses in respect of the auction November 24 to 30th.
