6G research gets £110m as 5G goes live across regions
Nigerians await Mafab Communications roll out in January
While the Fifth Generation (5G) network has gone live across all regions of the world, with more than 30 per cent of the world’s population now covered by the technology, research activities into the Sixth Generation (6G) network has attracted £110 million and is expected to take off anytime from now.
The funding is coming from the United Kingdom (UK) government, where it will channel cash into three universities as well as the UK Telecoms Lab in an effort to accelerate progress in 6G and further deepen 5G research.
Specifically, the University of York, the University of Bristol and the University of Surrey will be given a share of a £28 million pot to develop 6G technology in concert with the telco industry, and £80 million will go to the UK Telecoms Lab in Solihull.
According to documents, the universities will work with ‘world-leading UK academics’ and industry players, including Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung – to ensure future network technologies such as 6G are “designed in a way that promotes a more diverse and innovative telecoms market, and brings an end to current network setups where all equipment within a network must be from a single supplier.”
UK Digital Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: “The technology powering our phone and Internet networks is evolving rapidly and with 6G on the horizon, we must stay ahead of the curve.
“This government investment will see top UK universities join forces with industry to develop the nuts and bolts underpinning new networks, create skilled jobs testing the security of the latest telecoms tech, and ensure our plan for a more diverse and innovative 5G market is sustained in the future. The funding will also turbocharge our work to strengthen telecoms supply chains so we are no longer reliant on a handful of companies to develop and maintain 5G networks.”
In a related development, the 5G network has gone live across all regions, though on a lighter level, but it is expected to accelerate in another five years.
According to the November edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), 5G penetration will reach 14 per cent by 2028; Middle East and North Africa 31 per cent; Central and Eastern Europe 43 per cent; South East Asia and Oceania 48 per cent; Latin America 50 per cent; India, Nepal and Bhutan 53 per cent; North East Asia 74 per cent; Gulf Cooperation Council 86 per cent; Western Europe 88 per cent and North America from 35 per cent to 91 per cent by 2028.
Ericsson revealed that 5G-population coverage reached 25 per cent about 18 months faster than 4G did, adding that in 2028 5G-population coverage is estimated to hit 85 per cent.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, expectations are high as regards Mafab’s plans to roll out 5G services in January 2023, having secured five months extension from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Recall that Mafab Communications emerged second winner alongside MTN Nigeria during the December 13, 2021 3.5GHz spectrum auction conducted by the NCC in Abuja and was claimed to have paid the 5G-license fee of $273.6 million by February 24.
While they were expected to roll out service in August, which MTN did, though on a pilot basis before the commercial launch in Lagos in September, Mafab however, sought and got a five-month extension to fully prepare itself for roll out.
Going by the new arrangement, Mafab is expected to roll out by January 2023. However, as it is, nothing concrete seems to be on ground to guarantee possible service rollout by next month as the firm has maintained sealed lips on its plans.
A source very close to the firm, however, appealed for calm, claiming that Mafab Communications is working to ensure it rolls out by the stated time.
Speaking with The Guardian on Monday, the Abuja-based source said work is already ongoing to ensure roll out, “soonest, Mafab will come out with its roll out plan. Just watch this space.”
Chairman of Mafab Communications, Dr. Mushabu Bashir, had in a statement, disclosed that the company remained resolutely committed to the deployment of the technology.
“We are fully committed to bringing the benefits of 5G services to Nigerians and deploying a network that will drive economic development with increased broadband capabilities nationwide. I have no doubt that the service will help to deliver improvements in the fields of education, business, smart cities and entertainment.
“The goal remains to launch before the five-month extension period and we will be sharing more information in the near future,” he had said.
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