Keynote: The Rise in Mobile Data traffic and 2.6GHz Spectrum allocation by the Nigerian Communication Commissions (NCC)- Engr. Ali Dambatta

1. Final project on Advanced Spectrum Management
Course by GSMA

2. • The Spectrum is a finite resource and the demand is greater than the
supply, hence this scarce commodity need to be guided and provide
to only those that needs it.
• The Federal Government of Nigeria assigns a regulatory Body in
1992 to manage the Telecommunication Market.
• The Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) is the independent
National Regulatory Authority for the telecommunications industry in
Nigeria. It is responsible for developing the telecommunications
sector, encouraging competition and ensuring that
telecommunications operators provide high quality and efficient
services throughout the country.
• The Commission is regarded as one of the most progressive national
regulatory authorities in Africa.
• The Nigerian Communications set up an Act in 2003 (the Act) which
empower the Commission to manage, administer and regulate the
use of Spectrum for the communications sector.

3. The NCC however provided guidelines which are therefore
published to enhance the deployment of
telecommunications services across the country and to
further liberalize the spectrum management policy of the
Commission towards:
• i. Efficient and flexible transfer of Spectrum to users who
value it most.
• ii. Lessening the barriers to market entry by allowing
flexible access to Spectrum.
• iii. Deepening competition. iv. Promoting innovation by
enabling entrepreneurs to acquire Spectrum and offer
new services.

4. A spectrum management transaction which covers any
or all of: Spectrum Transfer, Spectrum Leasing and
Spectrum Sharing, in which a Seller trades all or some
of its Spectrum License (rights and obligation) to a
Buyer, following a commercial transaction approved by
the Nigeria Communications Commission.
• The Guidelines cover various transactions through
which Spectrum can be traded on the Secondary
Market which involves:
• Spectrum Transfer
• Spectrum Leasing
• Spectrum Sharing

5. • The Spectrum Sharing Involve a Spectrum
Trading transaction in which a License
jointly uses its Spectrum holding right in a
Spectrum License with another Licensee
following a commercial agreement
approved by the Nigerian Communication
Commission. Also The original Licensee
retains the Roll-Out Obligation.

6. • A Spectrum Trading transaction in
which a Licensee reassigns a portion
or a whole of its License holding on a
Spectrum License in time, geography
or quantum to another Licensee
following a commercial agreement
approved by the Commission.

7. A Spectrum Trading transaction in
which a Licensee sublets a portion of
its licensed Spectrum in time,
geography or quantum to another
Licensee following a commercial
agreement approved by the
Commission

8. • However, the Eligibility Criteria were set for all operators
involving in the Spectrum Trading ,
• Also requirement, cost involve, renewal, withdrawal process
and Roll-out obligations of the spectrum are also stated.
• A Buyer will be allowed to use the Spectrum acquired through
trading to deploy any technology.
• In trading, the users of the Spectrum shall ensure that the
Spectrum is used without causing harmful interference to
either themselves or other users. In the event of any harmful
interference, the affected parties will be required to take steps
to resolve the interference. However, where the parties are
unable to resolve, the matter should be referred to the
Commission

9. However according to Nigeria Communication Commission
(NCC) the Market Growth in the Nigerian Telecommunications
market has experienced significant growth in recent years and
by December 2016, the market had increased from about
400,000 in 2001 to about 160 million active subscribers .
The Key features that result to this growth include:
• There was significant rise in Mobile penetration that grew from
less than 1% in 2001 to more- than 93.41% in December 2016
• The was increase in Mobile take-up and was driven by
competition.
• Our Country Nigeria with several potentials, being a large
nation with growing population and economy and has a
growing levels of PC penetration, Internet take-up and
broadband adoption.

12. • The NCC provided the following Network Operators with
stipulated Bands to increase the demand for date rise:
• The Visafone was awarded in the 800MHz band
• Alheri Engineering Company Limited in the 1900 /
2100MHz band(Etisalat/9mobile)
• Celtel Nigeria Limited (Now Airtel Nigeria) in the 1900 /
2100MHz band
• The Globacom Limited in the 1900 / 2100MHz band
• MTN Nigeria Communications Limited in the 1900 /
2100MHz band

13. • There is demand for High Speed Internet. The Fixed
Internet access in Nigeria is also limited while mobile
internet services are more readily available.
• Also the availability of broadband internet access has the
potential to contribute positively towards the growth of the
economy and this allow investors to take advantage of
the inherent growth in internet usage in the country.

14. Due to Increase in demand in capacity as seen over the years there is
explosion in Mobile data traffic ,hence the need in Backhaul .
The Backhauling plays a major role to provide more capacity.
Without the Backhaul we noticed slow mobile service but when
Backhaul is incorporated on the network this will provide more capacity
and speed.
In a hierarchical telecommunications network the backhaulportion of
the network comprises the intermediate links between the
core network, or backbone network and the small sub networks at the
"edge" of the entire hierarchical network. As shown below.

15. GSMA capacity building :spectrum for Backhaul
The backhaul solutions are categorized into wired (leased lines or
copper/fiber) or wireless (point to point, point-to-multipoint over high-
capacity radio links).
The Wired is usually very expensive solution and often impossible to
deploy in remote areas.
Hence making wireless a more suitable and viable option. The Multi-
hop wireless architecture can also assist to overcome the hurdles of wired
solutions and to create efficient large coverage areas with growing demand
in the emerging telecom markets, where often cost is a major factor in
deciding technologies.

16. Since the year 2000,
The Nigerian telecommunications market has witnessed
major increase in competition driven by the Government’s
liberalization policies.
The development of competition has in turn led to
increased growth in the number of connections and
improved services for subscribers as anticipated.
To continually provide the required frequency resources to
support this growth, the Nigerian Communications
Commission plans transparent Auctions when frequencies
are available and allocated to it.

17. The 2.6 GHz Spectrum were made available by NCC for
auction and also its addresses several number of related
issues such as interference, cross-border co-ordination,
band clearance and guard bands.
The 2.6 GHz Spectrum is predicated on demands by
operators for additional Spectrum to enable the provision of
Advanced Wireless Broadband services in line with
international trends.
In this regard therefore, the NCC proceeds with the
allocation process of 2.6GHz Spectrum.

18. The use of radio Spectrum is planned both at
National and International levels in order to co-
ordinate the use of particular frequency bands for
different uses.
The current frequency allocation map for 2.6 GHz
band is shown below:

19. • The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) also
decided to adopt the licensing of the 2 X 70 MHz paired
Spectrum which is available in the 2.6 GHz band.
• The NCC however carried out wide consulted with the
relevant industry stakeholders to determine the required
demand and the best way to issue the Spectrum.
• Based on the stated demands and observations of
improvements in international licensing trends, the
Commission decided to provide the available license.
2 X 70 MHz slot in slots of 5 MHz to be aggregated.

20. For provisioning of roll-out of services, the Nigerian
Communications Commission intends to follow the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendation setting aside
Spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for the provision of advanced
wireless broadband services.
• By offering Lots of 2 X 5 MHz FDD paired Spectrum in the 2.6
GHz band ranging from 2500 – 2570MHz and 2620 to 2690
MHz (totaling 2 X 70 MHz) .
• However this was awarded to winning Bidders in multiples of 2
X 5 MHz Lots aggregated in contiguous arrangements.
• This Plan is specifically for FDD. However if in the future there
is need to allow for the operation of both TDD and FDD
network on this band due to a change based on technology
trends.

21. The 2.6GHz spectrum frequency deployment will enhance the
availability of spectrum.
By enhancing the speedy deployment of broadband services across the
country, this is expected to create more opportunity for the deployment
of advanced wireless 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology
services, as well as standardization and harmonization of telecom
operations.
However, the implementation is done with a vision to provide and
optimize access provide affordable fixed and mobile broadband
everywhere in Nigeria.
This method has continuously deepening broadband penetration by
promoting development of universally available, fast and reliable
network infrastructure which will give seamless broadband penetration
to drive technology innovations and overall productivity of the economy.
Hence the planned allocation of the 2.6GHz spectrum comes as a big
plus and raises the hope of a better connected Nigeria in the nearest
future

22. • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Communications_C
ommission
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhaul
(telecommunications)
• GSMA Advance Spectrum Management Course Session
6 Spectrum for Backhaul.
• http://www.ncc.gov.ng/documents/690-information-
memorandum-on-2-6ghz-spectrum-auction/file