of The Nigerian Communications Commission has set its sights on 6G technology and is seeking collaboration with stakeholders to address potential risks in the communications sector.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, spoke at the two-day Telecommunications Industry Risk Management themed “Evolution and Future Risk Management of the Telecommunications Industry: Leveraging Emerging Technologies and Trends” held recently in Lagos. This was made clear at the conference.
At the event, NCC bosses, who were represented by NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Ubale Masuka, said emerging technologies pose risks such as expanding attack surfaces, sophisticated cyber-attacks, data breaches and increasing sophistication of cyber threats. He said it would be accompanied. Like 6G.
He emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures before 6G deployment to ensure seamless technology integration.
He emphasized the increasing importance of robust risk management practices to navigate this dynamic environment.
“Today, we stand at the crossroads of tradition and transformation, where new technologies and trends present both unprecedented opportunities and challenges.
“While discussing the current state of 5G networks, which boast a wider attack surface due to the increasing number of connected devices and densification of network infrastructure, it is essential to also look to the future.
“We are witnessing the dawn of 6G technology, the next frontier in wireless communications,” Maida said.
According to NCC EVC, 6G promises even higher speeds, lower latency and breakthrough applications, with the potential to revolutionize the way people experience connectivity.
He further pointed out that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence must be leveraged to generate the data-driven insights needed to predict, detect, and respond to risks in real time.
Maida said stakeholders must closely monitor evolving threats and vulnerabilities and urged continuous improvement of incident response processes to strengthen the telecommunications industry’s resilience.
The theoretical speed of 5G is up to 10 gigabits per second, while 6G is expected to be 100 times faster than 5G.
Maida further confirmed NCC’s commitment to fostering an innovative environment with a top priority on the security and stability of communications infrastructure.
“As we navigate the uncharted territory of 5G and next-generation wireless technologies, we are working with regulators, industry stakeholders, and other stakeholders to share best practices, threat intelligence, resources, and implement robust risk management strategies. Collaborative efforts between parties will become even more important,” he added.
“Therefore, we must move beyond mere compliance and reactive measures to harness the power of these new technologies and trends to build a resilient and future-proof industry.”
5G has been rolled out in some major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri and Maiduguri.
MTN Nigeria was the first to launch commercial 5G activities in September 2022, followed by Mafab Communications and Airtel Nigeria in January and June 2023, respectively.
However, 5G penetration rate in Nigeria remains low.
High costs of equipment, routers, and devices, as well as poor infrastructure, are cited as major barriers to adoption.
Despite these challenges, the Nigerian government has announced a national 5G policy for network deployment, aiming to ensure effective deployment of 5G covering major urban areas by 2025.
