NCC targets N632bn revenue in 2022, says 5G network not harmful
The National Communications Commission (NCC), on Monday, said its projected revenue for the 2022 fiscal year was around N632billion.
It insisted that the proposed deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) network in the telecommunications sector would have no effect on the safety and health of Nigerians.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta gave the assurance when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Communications to defend his commission’s 2022 budget estimates.
The assertion by the NCC boss followed questions asked by some members of the joint committee about the fears being expressed by Nigerians over the deployment of the new technology.
When asked by the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and some members on the safety of the 5G Network, the NCC boss said nothing hazardous will happen from the Network.
Danbatta, said the agency proposed to generate N632.39bn in 2022 from the sale of 5G spectrum to telecommunications firms, among other revenue sources.
“The revenue would be realised through the sales of 5G spectrum, fines among others.
“Concerning the fears about the 5G spectrum, we share the same concern because it is justified and we have been sensitising Nigerians about the safety of the new technology. The 5G network we are going to launch has no harm.”
“Up till date, there is no credible evidence about the health hazard of the 5G technology, therefore it is safe.”
According to him, the 5G Spectrum network was good for the economy and the nation’s social transformation.
He added: “There is no medical evidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicating any harmful effect of the spectrum on the health of the end-users.
“NCC has enjoined Nigerians to disabuse their minds on the purported harmful effect of the spectrum and we will continue to sensitise them on the spectrum until everybody embraces the use of the 5G network.”
He further said that with the launch of the Computer Incidence Response Team and telecommunications networks across the country are secured against any form of cyberattack.
On the commission’s main budget, he said N86.2billion was proposed for recurrent expenditures, N29.36billion for Capital while N2.55billion was earmarked for Special Projects.
Danbatta, while defending his agency’s budget before the Senate MTEF/FSP panels in September, had said, the agency could generate up to N400billion from the spectrum sale next year.
Danbatta said his agency projected a budget of N162billion for 2021 but that, in the first quarter of 2021, “we have exceeded that amount because we were able to generate N181billion.”
