Fifth-Generation 5G Mobile Technology in Nigeria

 

Fifth-Generation 5G Mobile Technology in Nigeria

The Federal Executive Council has approved the National Policy on Fifth Generation (5G) Networks for Nigeria’s Digital Economy.  The 5G Policy was approved at the Council meeting on Wednesday, 8th September 2021, following the presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim. The implementation of the National Policy is with immediate effect. (Pantami)

Draft Consultation Document for Deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technology in Nigeria

Document URL: https://www.ncc.gov.ng/accessible/documents/918-draft-deployment-plan-for-5g-network-in-nigeria/file 

1. What is 5G?

5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.

5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and connect new industries. (Qualcomm)

2. How and when will 5G affect the global economy?

5G is driving global growth.

• $13.1 Trillion dollars of global economic output

• $22.8 Million new jobs created

• $265B global 5G CAPEX and R&D annually over the next 15 years

Through a landmark 5G Economy study, we found that 5G’s full economic effect will likely be realized across the globe by 2035—supporting a wide range of industries and potentially enabling up to $13.1 trillion worth of goods and services.

This impact is much greater than previous network generations. The development requirements of the new 5G network are also expanding beyond the traditional mobile networking players to industries such as the automotive industry.

The study also revealed that the 5G value chain (including OEMs, operators, content creators, app developers, and consumers) could alone support up to 22.8 million jobs, or more than one job for every person in Beijing, China. And there are many emerging and new applications that will still be defined in the future. Only time will tell what the full “5G effect” on the economy is going to be. (Qualcomm)

Read: Economic Impact Report 

https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/the-5g-economy 

3. Where is 5G being used?

Broadly speaking, 5G is used across three main types of connected services, including enhanced mobile broadband, mission-critical communications, and the massive IoT. A defining capability of 5G is that it is designed for forward compatibility—the ability to flexibly support future services that are unknown today.

3.1 Enhanced mobile broadband - In addition to making our smartphones better, 5G mobile technology can usher in new immersive experiences such as VR and AR with faster, more uniform data rates, lower latency, and lower cost-per-bit.

3.2 Mission-critical communications - 5G can enable new services that can transform industries with ultra-reliable, available, low-latency links like remote control of critical infrastructure, vehicles, and medical procedures.

3.3 Massive IoT - 5G is meant to seamlessly connect a massive number of embedded sensors in virtually everything through the ability to scale down in data rates, power, and mobility—providing extremely lean and low-cost connectivity solutions.

(Qualcomm)

Read: 5G use cases

https://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/5g-vision-use-cases.pdf 

4. Do I need a new phone if I want 5G?

Yes, you will need to get a new smartphone that supports 5G if you want to be able to use the network. For example, smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 5G Mobile Platforms are 5G compatible.

There are several new mobile phones available that are designed to support 5G, and multiple carriers across the world support the 5G wireless network. As the 5G rollout timeline progresses, more smartphones and carrier subscriptions will become available, as 5G technology and 5G compatible devices becoming more mainstream. (Qualcomm)

5G Device Finder:

https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/devices/phone-finder?filters=JTdCJTIyZmllbGRfZGV2aWNlX3NwZWNpYWxfZmVhdHVyZXNfMjQ2NTU6bmFtZSUyMjolNUIlMjI1RyUyMiU1RCU3RA%3D%3D 

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Platforms: 215, 665, 765, 765G, 855, 855 5G, 855+, 865 5G, 865+, 865+ 5G, 870, 888 5G, 8cx 5G, 8cx Gen 2 5G, Qualcomm FastConnect 6200, Qualcomm FastConnect 6800, Qualcomm FastConnect 6900, Wear 2500, Wear 3100, Wear 4100

Device Type: Kids Watch, Laptop, Smartphone, Smartwatch

Device Finder Type: Snapdragon Device, Wearable Device

Manufacturer: Acer, Asus, Fossil, Google, HP, Kyocera, Lenovo, LG, Meizu, Microsoft, Mobvoi, Motorola, Nokia, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, Pantech, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Sprint, TAG Heuer, Tory Burch, Xiaomi, ZTE e.t.c.

Operating System: Android, Microsoft Windows 10 Professional, Wear OS by Google

Special Features: 4G LTE, 4K Video Capture, 5G, 8K Video Capture, Elite Gaming, Qualcomm Aqstic, Qualcomm FastConnect 6800, Qualcomm FastConnect 6900, Quick Charge 2.0, Quick Charge 4, Quick Charge 4+, Quick Charge 5, Snapdragon Sound, Uplink MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi 6E Capable, Wi-Fi 6E Support e.t.c.

Wi-Fi Standards: 5G, Uplink MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 e.t.c.

5. Is 5G A-Blessing-or-A-Curse?

There are currently two (2) schools of thought regarding this debate, “Is 5G a-blessing-or-a-curse?”. I will prefer the balanced argument below.

According to (Frank, 2021), new fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications systems, now being rolled out globally, has become the subject of fierce controversy. Some health protection agencies and their scientific advisory committees have concluded that there is no conclusive scientific evidence of harm. 

Several recent reviews by independent scientists, however, suggest that there is significant uncertainty on this question, with rapidly emerging evidence of potentially harmful biological effects from radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures, at the levels 5G roll-out will entail.

The article identifies four relevant sources of scientific uncertainty and concern:

 

(1) Lack of clarity about precisely what technology is included in 5G; 

(2) A rapidly accumulating body of laboratory studies documenting disruptive in vitro and in vivo effects of RF-EMFs—but one with many gaps in it; 

(3) An almost total lack (as yet) of high-quality epidemiological studies of adverse human health effects from 5G EMF exposure specifically, but rapidly emerging epidemiological evidence of such effects from past generations of RF-EMF exposure; 

(4) Persistent allegations that some national telecommunications regulatory authorities do not base their RF-EMF safety policies on the latest science, related to unmanaged conflicts of interest. 

The author, an experienced epidemiologist, concludes that one cannot dismiss the growing health concerns about RF-EMFs, especially in an era when higher population levels of exposure are occurring widely, due to the spatially dense transmitters which 5G systems require. Based on the precautionary principle, the author echoes the calls of others for a moratorium on the further roll-out of 5G systems globally, pending more conclusive research on their safety. 

There is another interesting article titled “Technology and Geo-Economics: Emerging Conflicts in the Digital World”. 

Here is the URL

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/8036202.pdf 

I like the cautionary and insightful approach of the writers towards the 5G warfare. There are alternate and multiple options that governments around the world can consider when making decisions on 5G equipment. It makes sense to have a blend of 5G equipment manufacturers on the telecoms infrastructure, rather than shopping majorly from one (1) or just a few manufacturers.

The Nigerian Government can consider the distributed shopping model across the TOP MANUFACTURERS for example -

1. Huawei Technologies

2. Ericsson

3. Cisco Systems

4. Alcatel Lucent

5. ZTE

6. Ciena

7. Motorola Solutions

8. Juniper Networks

9. Fujitsu

10. Qualcomm

Quoting from the article (Khawly et al., 2021) -

A non-armed war is occurring nowadays all over the planet: which country will be the leader of the 5G innovation in the internet and telecommunication technology? A Napoleonic remark uttered more than 200 years ago stated: 

“Let China Sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake up the world”, and it seems that 5G has wakened China up, and the world started to shake.

According to the article, the entire world is aware of the battle between the United States (US) and China. The largest provider of telecom equipment in the world is Huawei Technologies. The United States (US) expressed two (2) concerns:

1. Fear of China spying on the American companies database because they will be streamed through their own hardware and;

2. Using Huawei equipment could leave the United States (US) susceptible to China’s infrastructure attack - if they ever went into war.

A country like Nigeria will definitely benefit from the 5G technology, considering the overwhelming challenges she is facing currently, or perhaps in recent years. The laudable feat of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy can be crowned through the distributed shopping model of 5G equipment, across the top manufacturers. This precautionary strategy will eliminate concerns of her citizens, who are the primary consumers of services delivered through the 5G equipment.

I hope this was informative.

Thank you.

@Dr Isa Ali Pantami @Minister of Communications and Digital Economy

#NCC #5G #5GNigeria #MinisterOfCommunicationsAndDigitalEconomy #DrIsaAliPantami #NotifyIC #AderogbaOtunla

REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frank, J. W. (2021). Electromagnetic fields, 5G and health: what about the precautionary principle? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75(6), 0. BMJ Journals. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-213595

Khawly, N., Arias-Oliva, M., & Andres, J. D. (2021). Technology and Geo-Economics: Emerging Conflicts in the Digital World. Moving technology ethics at the forefront of society, organizations, and governments, 20(2). https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/8036202.pdf

Pantami, I. (2021, September 09). PRESS STATEMENT - FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL APPROVES 5G POLICY FOR NIGERIA. Facebook Page. Retrieved September 09, 2021, from https://web.facebook.com/Dr-Isa-Ali-Pantami-206689862714715

Patel, K., Saiyed, A., & Ganatra, A. (2021). Adversarial Artificial Intelligence Assistance for Secure 5G-Enabled IoT. In: Tanwar S. (eds) Blockchain for 5G-Enabled IoT. Blockchain for 5G-Enabled IoT, 8(3), 323 - 350. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67490-8_13

Qualcomm. (2021, February 02). What is 5G? What is 5G? Retrieved September 09, 2021, from https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/what-is-5g

Your Dictionary. (2021). Your Dictionary. Your Dictionary. Retrieved 09 09, 2021, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/a-blessing-and-a-curse