Nigerian Telecommunication: 5G Attainment,
Prospects and Challenges III
https://leadership.ng/2019/12/27/nigerian-telecommunication-5g-attainment-prospects-and-challenges-iii/?fbclid=IwAR0WSd9jojupw-fA6SkMHy2gS1lEOQo3g3YDNXYUEr8hJpXnUTWhtlaWY9Y
https://leadership.ng/2019/12/27/nigerian-telecommunication-5g-attainment-prospects-and-challenges-iii/?fbclid=IwAR0WSd9jojupw-fA6SkMHy2gS1lEOQo3g3YDNXYUEr8hJpXnUTWhtlaWY9Y
In the previous segments of this article, I
presented the giant effort of Nigeria to catch up with the world on the 5G
networks operation. MTN, perhaps, the vastest GSM service provider in Nigeria
is the main driver of this effort to make 5G networks available to Nigerians. The
importance of 5G to the economic development, food security, poverty
eradication and the emergence of ‘Internet of Things (IoT) was equally
highlighted. Worldwide, 5G networks became very attractive to all categories and
diversity of people because of ultra-speed of Internet service with minimum capacity
of 10 megabits per second per square meter for downlink. This can go as high as
20 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and connection density of one million devices per
square kilometer. These attractions make
5G the most indispensable tool to the entire business world, technocrats,
academia, security, health, and agriculture and in deed all facets of human
endeavors. Globally, these attractions put the private sector on the driving
seat for adoption and promotion of 5G networks.
Similarly, the rudiments for successful
adoption and utilization of the 5G were also presented. In Nigeria, we are
still battling to overcome the rudimental issues of development such as water,
electricity, roads etc., which are taken for granted in even less developed
nations like Nigeria. Electric power and Internet service are sine qua nons for
making 5G networks available to people. On the Internet service, Nigerian multi
millions US Dollars investment in launching satellites was discussed at the
closing paragraph. Readers may recall Nigeria
launched two communication satellites; NigComSat-1 and NigComSat-1R between
2007 and 2011. These satellites are in addition to the two-weather/disaster
monitoring satellites; NigeriaSat-1 and NigeriaSat-2, which were launched earlier.
Nigerian Communication Satellite
(NigComSat-1) was the second Nigerian satellite and the third African
geosynchronous communication satellite. The satellite was launched on 13 May
2007 at 16:01 GMT, aboard a Chinese Long 3B carrier rocket, from the Xichang
Satellite Launch Centre in China. Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd
(NIGCOMSAT) operated the spacecraft. It was designed to provide coverage to
many parts of Africa on C-band and Ku-band, a global navigation beam on L-band
and the Ka-band transponders with spot beams over Nigeria, South Africa and
Europe. On November 11, 2008, NigComSat-1 failed in orbit after running out of
power due to an anomaly in its solar array.
The failure of NigComSat-1 resulted into the launching of a new Nigerian
communications satellite, NigeComSat-1R into orbit by China in Xichang. This second satellite was supposedly paid for
by the insurance policy on NigComSat-1, which was de-orbited in 2009. The cost
of NigComSat-1 at was estimated to be 32 billion Naira, which covered launching
and ground station. The satellite was aimed at positively impacting on national
development in various key sectors of communications, Internet services,
Health, Agriculture, Environmental protection and national security. Is the
satellite serving Nigeria and Africa in these areas? How effective are these
services? What roles can NigComSat-1R make in the deployment of 5G in Nigeria?
The purpose of communications satellites is
to receive and relay the signals around the curve of the Earth allowing
communication between widely separated locations irrespective of their distance
apart. From 1957 when Russia launched the first satellite in space to today, there
are well over 2000 communication satellites in the world today, each launched
in to orbit above the earth’s surface by different organizations or countries
to operate at a specified range and frequencies in order to eliminate
interferences of radio signals. These
satellites are basically into three categories depending on their distance from
the earth surface. There are Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites with a range of
distance between 160 to 2,000km from the earth surface, Medium Earth Orbit
(MEO) satellites with a distance between 2,000 to 35,000Km and Geostationary
Orbit (GEO) satellites with a distance over 35,000 km from the earth surface. GEO
satellites are seen to be stationary because their movement is the same relative
to the earth’s rotation. They revolve around the earth at 360o in every
24 hours.
No doubt, the Nigerian investment in
satellite technology is highly impactful on many areas. The technology has
brought an effective and cheaper means of communication within and outside Nigeria
in the last two decades. The satellite
terrestrial coverage has made it an exclusive medium used by all telecommunication
devices such as TV, Radio service, mobile telephone, and many others. The
satellite easily transmits or transport electronic data to any part of the
world at a very great speed in the real-time process without interruption when
doing so. In almost every household in
towns and villages across Nigeria, smart telephones and satellite televisions
are the most common devices for entertainment, information dissemination and
communication. Similarly, satellite
technology is impacting on health, education and agriculture in the country with
the aid of the Internet and effective communication. Internet access is
presently very active in Nigeria due to the communication satellite
it uses. Nigerians receive and offer online educational programs in many
parts of the world.
Courtesy of satellite technology, Video
calls over the network (like Skype) has made it possible to consult experts in
any part of the world for expertise intervention in several areas. Experts
provide their expertise to medical issues, education, agriculture, commerce and
the rest through video calls. During video calls, they appear as if they are
right there in the same room with the people seeking such expertise or skill.
On the economic front, launching and use of
NigComSat-1R project was estimated to save more than $900 million spent for
telephony trucking and data transport services for users of the satellite in
Africa. Similarly, $660 million was expected to save from phone call charges
and broadband access. The technology was to create more than 150,000 jobs for
Nigerians and several other millions of people in other countries.
Well, NigComSat-1R is operational but far
from meeting these expectations because of varieties of reasons. Technically,
Nigeria has only one communication satellite compared to United States of
America, which has more than 17 satellite stations. The United Kingdom has at
least five operational satellites. Most of the countries with communication
satellites have more than one. Nigeria needs to have a second communication
satellite. Thus, it is necessary to have minimum of two communication satellites
for effective utilization and backup of data. This will certainly attract
satellites users in Nigeria and other African countries to patronize
Nigeria. It will build confidence of the
major satellite service providers. Nigeria relies heavily on Russian and
Chinese engineers for launching and maintenance of the satellite, which is a
big challenge to the nation building, economic survival, national security and
global competitiveness. There is need to reposition and restructure the
Nigerian geniuses and talented individuals working in ICT establishments for
attaining a common goal of making NigComSat system effective, efficient and
sustainable. Africa is currently being dominated in all spheres militarily,
medically and educationally to the
control or near
complete dominance of the communications technology
space owned owned and operated by developed countries. Why should
Nigeria not be in this competition?
5G wireless is the technology of 2020 and
the world is gearing up for mass adoption.
Monica P. R, the CNN Business correspondent reported that many
International companies are making huge investment in preparation of the 5G
networks. She reported “the deployment of 5G is helping companies like Ciena, a
networking equipment firm, reported a strong 2020 earnings outlook…” base on
the 5G adoption and operation in the Western World.
In conclusion, Nigeria is a huge market of
ICT and 5G network is providing window of opportunity for Nigeria to make a
giant step out of poverty and massively create wealth, increase productivity
and sustainable economic growth. The current minister of Communication, Dr
Pantami is an indefatigable ICT guru who precisely knows what to do to make 5G
network available, accessible and affordable to the generality of Nigerians. The ball is in your court Mr. Minister.
Nigerians are anxiously waiting to use 5G network in 2020.
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