Barring any last minute change, three operators – MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Mafab Communications Ltd, would battle to have 5G licence in Nigeria.

Sources within the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed to The Guardian yesterday, that the three operators have met requirements for the licence, as contained in the Information Memorandum (IM) for the spectrum auction, including payment of 10 per cent of the reserve price of $197.4 million (N75 billion).

The 10 per cent, which is about N7.5 billion, is non-refundable.

This development is coming nine days to the mock auction of lots in the 3.5GHz spectrum designated for deployment of the technology.

According to the NCC’s IM, while the mock auction is scheduled for December 10, final auction will hold December 13 in Abuja.

The IM revealed that NCC would offer two lots of 100MHz each in the 3.5 GHz band ranging from 3500 to 3600 MHz and 3700 to 3800 MHz for auction, prelude to the 5G network deployment in the country.

According to the regulator, the spectrum lot, won by every bidder, would be assigned on a nationwide basis, consisting of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Bidders are not expected to have a relationship with another bidder. A relationship is defined as a situation where a bidder has a direct or indirect ownership stake of 10 per cent or more in another bidder.

The IM informed that the Commission does not have any plans to reserve spectrum for any group. Reservation, according to the IM, is considered as not being fair or making the playing field level. (The Guardian: Excludes headline)

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