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Services and products summed under emerging technologies including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones requiring the use of spectrum are to be covered by new spectrum guidelines to be issued soon by telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, at a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum organised by the commission in Lagos, this on regulating the deployment of drones in the country, said the regulator was already working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) fashion adequate regulation that would promote the use of drones within the appropriate spectrum to help in help address some the challenges faced by the country in the areas of security and disaster management.
UAVs have increasingly gained traction in the face of security challenges such as the vandalism of critical national infrastructure, kidnapping, insurgencies and other crimes and even in providing critical services during emergency situations, the NCC’s boss noted,
While speaking at the forum with the theme: ‘Regulation On The Use of Drones,’ Danbatta, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders’ Engagement at the NCC, Adewolu Adeleke, said the commission deemed it strategic to consult with operators, investors, and other stakeholders including the security and aviation authorities in reviewing the guidelines on the use of 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz bands to accommodate emerging technologies whether for use of national security or commercial services.
“We’ll always be guided by input from stakeholders,” Danbatta told the audience adding that in view of the limitations to the guidelines for the use of 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz spectrum bands and the need for amendments, a reviewed draft guidelines that accommodate duty cycle, transmission, reception frequencies, power, distance, speed and weight, among others, is now available.
“These changes will give an added opportunity to the use of drones in the bands without causing interference to the adjacent and incumbent services [and] all equipment to be used must be duly type-approved in accordance with the commission’s Type Approval Regulation,” said Danbatta.
He called on all stakeholders to leverage the opportunity provided by the 60GHz frequency band which exists on 57-64 GHz and now officially available for use once the necessary work is completed on the guidelines.
Earlier, the Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye, had assured the audience that the commission will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders concerning the deployment of drones and on all other matters.
NCC’s Director of Spectrum Administration, Austin Nwalunne, described the forum as a clear expression of NCC’s commitment to the ongoing implementation of the regulator’s 8-Point Agenda because it speaks to key elements of the Agenda including the optimization of benefits of spectrum, facilitation of strategic collaboration and partnership, and ensuring operational efficiency and regulatory excellence.
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), Funso Adebayo, commended the NCC for “moving in the right direction and at the right speed.”
