Nigeria needs 80,000 base stations for smart economy - Danbatta

ITRealms:

Nigeria with the population of over 180 million needs between 70,000 and 80,000 telecommunication base stations to actualize her dream of joining the club of countries working toward making Internet of Things (IoT) a reality by leveraging Forth Generation (4G) and Fifth Generation (5G) networks, reports ITRealms.

The Internet of things (IoT), ITRealms reports, is the inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles (also referred to as "connected devices" and "smart devices"), buildings, and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data, according to Wikipedia.

Disclosing this at a sitting of the House Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee investigating the health implications of mounting telecommunications masts close to building, in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, said the country currently has less than 50,000 base stations.

“3G, 4G going to 5G networks are going to usher this country into smart applications, the Internet of Things or the smart world and cities we are talking about. And of course because of the additional burden on infrastructure, the present capacity of telecom infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cater for these additional platforms or services we talk about’ 

“Therefore we will need from 70,000 to 80,000 base transceiver masts to be able to provide the effective capacity that’s needed to deploy 4G going to 5G,” he said while responding to questions from members of the ad hoc committee.

He later called on other approving agencies at all levels of government in the country synergize  with  NCC a view to achieving the target, noting that the United Kingdom (UK), with a population of almost one third of Nigeria already has close to 60,000 masts.

On concerns about health implications to exposure to electromagnetic field, Danbatta said researches so far conducted in the area have not indicated any adverse health concerns.

“With regards to other professional bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) we don’t have any quarrel with their positions. The only question is when we say exposure to electromagnetic field is hazardous to health what level are we talking about?  We have to define the level of exposure that is hazardous to human beings.

“Of course if you generate a massive electromagnetic field of unprecedented proportion and put a person inside, there will be medical consequences. But what we are saying is that: provided the limit specified is observed and NCC is there to ensure compliance with that limit, there is no health hazard.  There is a limit of safety below which electromagnetic fields do not cause any harm to health,” he declared.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE 

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47 base stations unsealed in Ogun, courtesy Danbatta

ITRealms:

An estimated 47 base stations sealed in Ogun State have been effectively unsealed courtesy of the intervention by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, reports ITRealms.

Affirming this to ITRealms, the Head, Public Relations at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka quoted the EVC as revealing this after a closed door meeting with the state governor, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun recently in Abeokuta, however, noted that the development would positively impact on the access to telecommunication services in the state.

According to Danbatta, “We have also succeeded in resolving a contentious matter leading to sealing of 47 base transceiver stations in Ogun State. These are going to be unsealed immediately. And this would enhance, of course, the challenge we have of providing telecom access in the state.”

Also, the professor of telecommunication engineering expressed satisfaction with the assurances given by the governor in tackling the concerns of multiple taxations and right of way, which are among the non-technical factors conspiring to degrade quality of telecommunication services in the country. 

 “The assurances given by His Excellency is to ensure adherence to resolution of the National Economic Council on multiple taxation. We have heard him. Something is going to happen. There’s lot of excitement for infrastructure deployment in Ogun State,” Danbatta said.

Further, Danbatta had urged the Governor Amosun to enlist the support of other members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to ensure adherence to the provisions of NEC’s resolution, which takes care of the concerns of multiple taxations and Right of Way, among others.

“Indeed, Your Excellency, the resolution of the NEC of March 21, 2013 properly addressed the problems of multiple taxation, levies and charges on ICT infrastructure with a view to providing a lasting solution. Incidentally, these resolutions are largely honored more in the breach than in their observance hence the precarious situation has not changed,” he explained.

In his response, Governor Amosun applauded Danbatta  for what he described as his giant strides, since assuming the leadership of the commission, stressed the significance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for the development of the country, saying that his administration will key into these development for the benefit of the citizenry.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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