Influence 2023 polls positively, NCC challenges editors

Regulator plans stakeholders’ forum on 5G auction

AS campaigns for next year’s polls hot up, Executive Vice Chairman ( EVC) of Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has stated that the media industry holds the ace in promoting a credible exercise. Danbatta, who ga ve the challenge at the 18th AllNigeria Editors Conference, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors ( NGE) in collaboration with the Imo Sta te government in Ow - erri, reiterated the roles of journalists, before, during and after the elections.

In his goodwill message, delivered by the Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the NCC boss, while x- raying the conference theme, “2023: Political Landscape, Credible Elections and Role of Editors,” declared that responsive journalism was critical to sustainable democracy .

He told the gathering that NCC was committed to implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan ( 2020- 2025) and National Digital Economy Policy and Strateg y ( 2020- 2030) and others geared enhancing connectivity and social cohesion in the countr y.

Danbatta, who asserted that the upcoming 5G spectrum auction and others are aimed at improving a vailability, accessibility and affordability, added that telecommunications infrastructure would enhance credibility of the elections.

Lauding the media for support over the years, the EVC acknowledged that the partnership has been mutual.

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N a related development,

the proposed auction of two lots in the 3.5GHZ Spectrum for deployment of 5G services, set to take place in December 2022, is gathering steam and the regulator has concluded arraignments to host an engagement session with stakeholders to discuss and provide more insight into the Draft Information Memorandum that would guide the process.

NCC had earlier announced the plan to license additional lots in the 3.5 GHZ spectrum band for deplo yment of the new technology in the Global System of Mobile Communications ( GSM) industr y.

The interactive session, which holds on November 15, 2022 in Lagos, would feature comments and sub - missions from critical stakeholders on the memo

randum.