Nigeria Archives - EMFSA

5G deployment in Nigeria faces further roadblocks as Senate calls for suspension

Editor — Fri, 21 May 2021 13:12:47 +0000

By OGHENERUEMU ONEYIBO

19th May 2021

On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, the Nigerian Senate asked the federal government to suspend plans to deploy the 5G network pending a six-month investigation into possible health risks associated with the technology.

This development comes after the presentation of a report by the Senate Joint Committee on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT, and Cyber Crimes and Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases.

The Committee, led by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had been directed to investigate the status of 5G deployment in Nigeria and its impact on citizens. This was due to a motion sponsored by Senator Uche Ekwunife on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Vanguard reports.

In her debate, Ekwunife advised there was a need to investigate health concerns surrounding the deployment of 5G in Nigeria, citing the importance of ensuring that Nigerian citizens are not exposed to an unreasonable risk of significant bodily injury or harm.

Excerpt:

While the Committee did not discover any link between 5G and COVID-19, and any other health implications, it has advised caution in the rollout of the 5G network and close observation of global attitude to its rollout.

Read the article at: https://techpoint.africa/2021/05/20/nigerian-senate-suspends-5g-plans/

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Senate To Investigate Status Of 5G Network In Nigeria

Editor — Tue, 05 May 2020 21:54:15 +0000

Channels Television
Updated May 5, 2020

Lawmakers during plenary at the Senate chamber in Abuja February 12, 2020. Photo: Twitter-@NGRSenate.

Channels Television
Updated May 5, 2020

• The Senate has said that it will investigate the status of the 5G Communication network in Nigeria and how the technological impact will affect Nigerians.

Senator Uche Ekwunife sponsored the motion during plenary on Tuesday.

She raised concerns about the uncertainty of whether or not 5G has been launched in Nigeria.

She further raised concerns by some scientists and medical experts that the emissions from the 5G towers could adversely affect the health of citizens by causing symptoms like damage to eyes, antibiotics resistance, and other physiological effects on the nervous and immune system.

• Senate asks FG to suspend 5G network deployment

Published May 5, 2020

Sunday Aborisade, Abuja

The Senate on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to suspend the planned deployment of the Fifth Generation Network in Nigeria. The red chamber stated this after the deliberation on a motion by Senator Uche Ekwunife, drawing the attention of the senators to the status of the 5G network in the country.

Ekwunife said her motion was borne out of the need to assure Nigerians of their safety by asking the Federal Government to postpone the launch until a proper investigation was carried out.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, said the 5G network deployment remained a controversial issue.

• Senator Uche Ekwunife @SenUcheEkwunife on twitter

Senator of the Federal Republic of @Nigeria; Representing #AnambraCentral Senatorial District. Committed to Accountability, Transparency & Upholds Integrity…

Earlier today at the plenary, I moved a motion on the need to investigate the present status of the 5th Generation (5G) network in Nigeria.

While I acknowledged that the 5G network may hold a lot of promise for high-end broadband services and solutions,…

1/4 pic.twitter.com/pBVYLnHRXf
— Senator Uche Ekwunife (@SenUcheEkwunife) May 5, 2020

…on the nervous & the immune systems if the network is not properly deployed.

After due deliberation, the @NGRSenate resolved to suspend the deployment of the 5G network in Nigeria & directed its committee on Communication, and the committee on Science & Technology…

3/4 pic.twitter.com/rlk3bjFaXR
— Senator Uche Ekwunife (@SenUcheEkwunife) May 5, 2020

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Star Times Nigeria: 5G signal test in South Africa disrupting satellite transmission in the C band frequency

Editor — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:59:34 +0000

According to the Star Times Nigeria on twitter:

reports and analysis.

Currently we are firmly coordinating with ICASA to solve the technical problems resulted from signal interference.https://t.co/QjeulBKBhW

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

StarTimes Group

— StarTimes Nigeria (@StarTimes_Ng) October 11, 2019

“Please note that the ongoing 5G signal test in South Africa has been seriously influencing our satellite transmission in the C band frequency. According to the investigation and confirmation of ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa), the 5G signal test sites are in short distance, therefore our site base has been severely interfered by the operation of 5G provider nearby. As such, some channels including FOX, FOX LIFE, FOX SPORTS, FOX SPORTS 2, NGW E，NGC E, BABY TV are unable to be broadcast normally.

According to the World Broadcasting Union, reallocating C-Band frequencies to other services such as 5G can lead to insufficient C-Band spectrum remaining available for broadcasters’ use, existing distribution and collections systems may be compromised, especially in countries with equatorial geography and high rainfall. In addition, other industry associations and international satellite communication services providers including the National Association of Broadcasters of South Africa, Intelsat and SES have identified the same perspective in relevant reports and analysis.

Currently we are firmly coordinating with ICASA to solve the technical problems resulted from signal interference.” advanced-television.com/2019/09/23/wbu

WBU concerns over C-band re allocation

By Chris Forrester

September 23, 2019

The World Broadcast Unions (WBU) – in the light of initiatives by the FCC in the US, Ofcom in the UK, and other national administrations concerning potential C-Band Broadcast Spectrum (3.7 to 4.2 MHz) reassignment for 5G – is expressing their concerns over programme collection and distribution and the potential impact on hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.

C-band spectrum in many nations is being repurposed from satellite usage to 5G telecommunications use.

The WBU, in a statement said: “With insufficient C-Band spectrum remaining available for broadcasters’ use, existing distribution and collections systems may be compromised, especially in countries with equatorial geography and high rainfall. Additionally, reallocating C-Band frequencies to other services may, over time, increase pressure on the remaining uplink band further limiting its use and compromising existing C-Band users and service reliability, increasing costs to the broadcast community.”

The WBU reminded regulators that C-band is the international work-horse for the distribution of Television, Radio and other content by broadcasters and other media industries, with millions of professional downlinks and corresponding uplinks in use nationally and internationally and over one hundred million C-Band TV receive only antennas in use worldwide (including B2B, internet and direct-to-home satellite).

“The WBU contends that any consideration of reallocating C-Band spectrum is a serious issue with technical, economic and service implications,” said Michael McEwen, Head, WBU Secretariat. “Detailed impact studies involving all stakeholders need to be undertaken to fully understand the consequences before such a reallocation takes place.”

However, the WBU might be a little late in its concerns as many nations have already made the decision to reallocate spectrum.

Also, the FCC is actively looking at permitting C-band restructuring by satellite operators over the US.

The WBU stated: “The recent regulatory Inquiries by the US FCC on the potential reallocation of some of the existing C-Band downlink allocation (for 5G services) is a concern for the members of the WBU. Given the ubiquitous use of C-Band spectrum around the world and its potential to provide new services, such US regulatory activity will likely be pursued by other Administrations. Any subsequent proposals to globally harmonize the use of these frequencies above 3600 MHz for IMT, argued for on the basis of national reallocations, do not reflect the realities of global satellite service usage.”

“In addition, in the event some of the downlink C-Band spectrum is reallocated, the associated “twinned” uplink C-Band frequencies may eventually be reallocated to other services. Over time, such a reallocation might further increase pressure on the remaining uplink band, further limiting its use. In all likelihood, harm will be done to existing C-Band users and the solutions will compromise service reliability and increase the costs to the broadcast community,” added the WBU.

The broadcasting unions who belong to the WBU are the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB/AIR) and the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA). https://advanced-television.com/2019/09/23/wbu-concerns-over-c-band-reallocation/

EMFSA: March 2019

Is Rain using a satellite spectrum for its 5G Network in South Africa?

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