Federal Govt Breaks Silence On Installing 5G Cables In Lagos
The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has revealed why fibre optic cables are been laid in Lagos and other states.
Danbatta, in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Dr Henry Nkemadu, said the cables were been laid by Mobile Network Operators for the expansion of infrastructures and improved quality of services.
The NCC Vice Chairman dismissed reports that the on-going works had anything to do with 5G equipment deployment.
He said viral videos, audio and textual contents linking the digging and excavation activities to 5G Technology were all false.
Danbatta said: “As we speak, any information suggesting or claiming that the equipment being deployed by the network operators are 5G equipment is purely misinformation deliberately orchestrated by individuals bent on creating ill-feelings in the industry.”
He urged Nigerians to dismiss such unfounded and ill-motivated information in its entirety regardless of whoever, no matter how highly-placed or lowly-placed, is making the insinuation.
The NCC boss said: “The ongoing digging and fibre optic cable laying by some operators are in accordance to agreements reached during meetings by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Management of the NCC with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) led by Dr Kayode Fayemi in January 2020 during which the Forum gave its commitment to allow the network operators expand their networks by granting right of way (RoW) approvals for telecommunications infrastructure expansion unhindered across their states.
“This will significantly reduce drop calls and improve the performance of the network of the operating companies (the Telcos).
“The Governors’ Forum agreed to allow the Telecoms Operators to expand their networks by granting the telecoms operators necessary permits, which they had been having difficulties in getting before now. This will help them expand their networks for more effective service delivery to Nigerians. That is exactly what was or is ongoing in Lagos and in other states. It is to improve their networks infrastructure.”
He also revealed that licenses have not been granted for 5G, adding that the NCC only carried out trials to certify the safety to end-users.
