ATCON President: Spectrum sell to ensure level playing field

Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has commended the auction of two slots of 25MHz in the 5.4GHz spectrum for delivery of wireless broadband in Lagos State won by Cobranet Limited and Swiftnetworks Limited.

In an email response to BusinessDay, Olusola Teniola, President of ATCON said, “The auction for two 5.4GHz slots is a good omen for industry and particularly the consumers. For once smaller operators are able to purchase affordable spectra and will be able to roll out much needed broadband services in areas not deemed viable by the larger operators.”

There were six companies that placed bids for the slots advertised by the Nigeran Communications Commission (NCC) including Tizeti Network Limited, E-Kennet Limited, Steam Broadcasting and Communications Limited, Cobranet Limited, Juniper Solutions and Swiftnetworks Limited.

At the conclusion of the auction, both Cobranet and Swiftnetworks Limited emerged winners at the price of N27, 659,347.10 each. In all, the NCC raked in N55 million from the auction.

The auction of the 5.4GHz was approved in 2014 by the National Frequency Management Commission (NFMC). The spectrum was projected to add necessary impetus to the drive by NCC to make more spectrums available to players in the nation’s telecommunications sector with a view to deploying services, especially broadband internet across the country.

Some of the requirements for qualifying to bid for the slots include roll out for each of the states and regions requested indicating the number of sties targeted by year 1,2,3,4, and 5 of the licenses; evidence of technical competence to deploy the licenses, technical partners as well as evidence of financial capacity to support the roll-out target.

According to Olusola Teniola, everyone is a winner in the deal. NCC wins from the money it earns from the sale. The operators Cobranet and Swiftnetworks win by gaining the opportunity to deepen their penetration and providing better quality services to their customers. With regard to the consumers, the possibility of providing quality service, increase browsing speed and eventually reduce cost of data and other services is almost a given.