NCC Gives Operators 14 Days to Quit Wireless Frequency

• NCC Gives Operators 14 Days to Quit Wireless Frequency

The Nigerian Communications Commission has given service providers an ultimatum to quit the use of the 5.4GHz band spanning the 5.470 to 5.725 GHz frequency range within 14 days.

In a statement obtained in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the frequency was not free but licensed in Nigeria.

This, he said, meant that no operator of whatever genre of service should jump on to the frequency without obtaining a licence for its use.

He, therefore, asked those who were already occupying the frequency to quit within 14 days or face the dire consequences.

Danbatta said, “The NCC hereby informs the general public that the 5.4GHz band spanning 5.470 – 5.725 GHz frequency range is a licensed band in Nigeria. Transmission of signals or use of equipment in any form on this band without a frequency licence obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission is illegal and shall not be tolerated.

“All concerned operators/companies or any person(s) using this band should note that it is a criminal offence pursuant to the section 122 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 to operate on any frequency not duly assigned by the commission. The consequences of such an act may lead to imprisonment, sanction and forfeiture of equipment used in operating the illegal services.”

He added, “In view of the above, the commission hereby gives a 14-day pre-enforcement notice to all unlicensed operators on the 5.4 GHz band spanning 5.470 – 5.725 GHz to forthwith vacate and desist from further transmission of signals or use of equipment in any form on this band without authorisation obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

“The commission shall without further recourse and upon expiration of the stipulated deadline commence appropriate enforcement action, including but not limited to prosecution, fine and confiscation of equipment used in the illegal transmission.”

Our correspondent reports that in some jurisdictions, the frequency in contention can be classified as free spectrum and can be deployed by service providers to render wireless internet services.