It looks like someone has jumped the gun on 5G rollout in Nigeria, as the country’s telecommunications regulator has felt obliged to challenge recent reports that have appeared on social media.
According to Nigerian news sources, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has denied reports that 5G services are now up and running. In fact, it pointed out, licences for 5G networks have yet to be issued.
The claims, apparently appearing on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media sites in the past few days, suggested that 5G launch was imminent in Lagos, the country's most populous city. The claims added, rather weirdly, that residents should stay indoors on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
A three-month 5G test had been approved by the NCC in November 2019, but the trial has ended and the equipment involved has been decommissioned, according to the authority. The trial was meant to study and observe any health or security challenges the 5G network might pose; relevant stakeholders and security agencies were invited to take part.
The NCC said that it would continue to maintain its policy of neutrality in the choice of technology and continue to encourage service providers to deploy the best technology that would securely meet the needs of consumers. However, actual 5G spectrum auction dates have yet to be announced, let alone any launches.
