As Nigerians await the launch of the fourth generation (4G) mobile service by any of the telecommunications operating companies, the telecommunications regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has asked Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators to migrate to Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology.
The decision by the NCC to order the CDMA mobile operators popularly known as private telephone operators (PTOs) to move to LTE is part of the outcomes of the Nigerian Broadband Forum aimed at speeding up the migration to the latest technology in mobile broadband. LTE is a mobile network technology that is being deployed by mobile operators on both the GSM and the CDMA technology paths.
Depending on the spectrum available, live LTE networks can deliver very fast data speeds of up to 100Mbps in the downlink and 50Mbps in the uplink. It provides high levels of spectral efficiency and network performance, coupled with high network capacity and low latency. LTE support spectrum channel bandwidths from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz and can operate in both paired spectrum (in FDD mode) and unpaired spectrum (in TDD mode).
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah said CDMA mobile operators should take the initiative and launch LTE. “Broadband deployment via wireless requires the use of frequencies which are currently scarce in Nigeria. This scarcity is due to the fact that most frequencies have been allocated to CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) operators and broadcasters,” Juwah said in the report.
The EVC encouraged the CDMA operators to upgrade to the LTE technology while broadcasters had been mandated to vacate the 2.5GHz frequency band by 2015. He envisioned that wireless broadband initiative would accelerate by 2015 as the required frequencies are freed up with the digitization of the broadcast industry in Nigeria.
Juwah looking at the current state of broadband infrastructure in Nigeria said despite the abundant broadband capacity at our shores from SAT3, Main One, Glo1 and WACS, the critical problem of distribution of these capacities due to inadequate metro-fibre and last mile connectivity contributes to low broadband penetration.
Currently, no Nigerian telecom operator has launched LTE. Starcomms and Smile Communications plans to introduce LTE within the next 12-18 months since they already have necessary the spectrum. Capcom, which is on the verge of concluding the acquisition of Starcomms is pumping $210 million in cash and equipment into the CDMA operator.
Mr. Ademola Eleso, CEO designate for Starcomms post transaction completion said Starcomms expects to see LTE tested and running within 12-18 months after the completion of the transaction. Capcom has sent their letter of request to take over Starcomms to the NCC and is awaiting regulatory approval.
On the other hand, Smile Communications which has a Unified Access Service License (UASL), a Private Networks Link (PNL) and a spectrum in the 850 MHz band which allows it operate LTE network, has started understudying the Nigerian market. Smile operates in a number of Africa countries including Uganda and Tanzania where it launched LTE services in East Africa. It has 4G spectrum licence in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).