The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has successfully carried out a mock session for the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) network in the country. The commission added that only MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications Ltd, and Airtel Networks Ltd are qualified as approved bidders for the 5G, having met all requirements for participating in the licensing process.
After the successful pilot auction, NCC spokesman, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, explained that the simulated auction held on Friday in Abuja was in preparation for the main auction scheduled for Monday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
According to Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, “The conduct of the simulation exercise was in line with the requirements stipulated in the Information Memorandum (IM) for 3.5 GHz spectrum auction.
“The IM is a document that defines the process for the licensing of the 3.5 GHz spectrum band earlier published in the Commission’s website at the inception of the auction process.
“Using the Ascending Clock Auction System for the mock session, the three qualified bidders for the 3.5 GHz spectrum, namely MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications Ltd, and Airtel Networks Ltd, participated in the software-based simulated auction exercise,
“Following the successful mock auction, the stage is set for the commission to license two slots in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band expected to be picked by successful bidders at the end of the Main Auction on Monday, December 13, 2021.
“The auction on Monday will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s determination to harness the benefits of 5G for the nation’s socio-economic growth as the concrete roll-out of 5G commences in 2022.”
In a brief remark at the mock auction, Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Professor Umar Danbatta said the commission had taken all necessary steps to ensure due diligence on the credibility of the consultants and to safeguard the integrity of the software solution being used to carry out the implementation of the national assignment.
In order to ensure a fail-proof process, Adinde said the NCC also carried out a simulation of the manual process of the auction, aside from the electronic mock. He further explained that this was to make bidders familiar with the manual auction in case of any circumstances on the main action day that may warrant a need to switch to the manual auction.
