The Nigerian government has approved the rollout of 5G data across the country, which means that inhabitants of Nigeria will soon benefit from faster broadband. Continue reading to find out more about the benefits of 5G and how it will affect Nigeria.
Nigerians will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of 5G’s lightning-fast speeds, thanks to the revelation that the Nigerian Federal Government has approved the use of a 5G network throughout the country.
According to Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria’s highest decision-making body, the Federal Executive Council, approved a national strategy on the use of 5G networks for the digital economy on September 8. The policy’s implementation is set to begin immediately.
Following Kenya and South Africa’s deployment of 5G earlier this year, the country became Africa’s third to accept the technology. The decision was made following a two-year process of drafting the national policy, which included substantial stakeholder involvement that was comprehensive and multi-sectoral in nature, as well as the requirement for public awareness and sensitization to the new changes. The goal was to conduct a study on how deploying 5G in Nigeria could impact health and security, and it looks like the Nigerian government is on board with the idea, since there are present plans to implement 5G as early as January 2022.
What is 5G, exactly?
The fifth generation of wireless technology, commonly known as 5G, is the successor to the third and fourth generations of wireless technology, which were responsible for the invention of smartphones and the acceleration of online browsing, respectively. Because of its improved capacity for managing enormous volumes of data, 5G is expected to be significantly faster than previous generations. 5G has lower latency, more bandwidth, longer battery life, broader device support, and greater network flexibility.
South Korea, China, and the United States are now leading the globe in 5G technology adoption; however, several other countries have already caught up. Only three African countries, including Nigeria, have agreed to the deployment of 5G technology, but Libya is one of those that have already done so.
“Whatever we are able to accomplish now with our cellphones, we will be able to do faster and better,” says Ian Fogg, a spokesman from OpenSignal, a company that specializes in mobile data analytics. Consider smart glasses with virtual reality, mobile virtual reality, much higher-quality video, and the internet’s role in making cities smarter.
“But the thing that is genuinely exciting is all of the new things we can construct that we have never even dreamed of,” he concluded.
Drones are now being employed in cities to do tasks including search and rescue, fire assessment, and traffic monitoring. These drones will be able to readily communicate with the 5G network, allowing them to accomplish their tasks. Driving will let self-driving cars become a reality, with vehicles being able to “communicate” with one another to avoid collisions and live map and traffic data being provided straight to your vehicle.
Lag time in mobile phone games will be reduced as well. For example, after 5G is fully deployed, it will be much easier than ever to visit the most popular Chinese lucky charms for gambling, and consumers will receive their rewards considerably faster.
Why is it necessary to use 5G?
The importance of data that has been digitally saved to society is growing as the world continues to progress. People consume more data every year, and this trend is projected to continue, especially given the rise in the popularity of online video and music streaming.
The currently available spectrum bands are at their capacity limit, which will eventually result in a breakdown of service. This is especially likely to occur if an excessive number of people in the same location attempt to access internet services at the same time. This is especially likely to occur when there is a large number of people attempting to access the same online services at the same time from the same physical location.
The new 5G technology is not designed to be faster in and of itself; rather, it is intended to manage significantly more devices and data, which will result in significantly faster service. You shouldn’t restrict your thinking to just your mobile phone because it will be able to handle multiple times as many electronic devices at the same time. 5G will have the capacity to handle anything, including sensors on equipment, video cameras, and even lighting that can be controlled remotely.
Mr. Pantami told the reporters at the presidential house, “In a nutshell, we can say [5G] will create numerous prospects economically, educationally, and even in the health sector, and it will also serve our security institutions, particularly in places where they require high-quality services.”
When will it be possible to use 5G?
I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you, but you are going to require a new mobile phone. Despite the fact that the new network could go live as early as January of the following year, you will still have some wiggle room before you are required to replace your current phone with one that is compatible with the new network. As was the case with the introduction of 4G in 2009, smartphones will continue to be able to use older generations for a period of time following the launch of 5G onto the market and the completion of the necessary infrastructure installations.
People, on the other hand, may decide to sell their phones as quickly as possible if the quality of the service is poor and prices continue to rise. Because earlier models were only able to connect to 4G and 3G networks, customers will need to purchase a phone that is 5G compatible (also written as 5G ready) in order to connect to 5G networks. It is possible that you will also require a new SIM card for your phone that is compatible with 5G; however, you should check with your mobile phone operator to determine whether or not this is necessary.