The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has published what it calls a pre-enforcement notice regarding unauthorised use of the 5.4GHz frequency band.
The notice informs operators, private/public organizations and the public that the 5.4GHz frequency band spanning 5.430 - 5.725GHz range is a licensed frequency in Nigeria. Therefore, it continues, the transmission of signals or use of equipment in any form on this band without a frequency license obtained from the Commission is illegal.
It reminds anyone using this band that it is a criminal offence to operate in any frequency not duly assigned by the Commission and may lead to imprisonment, sanction and confiscation of equipment.
Who the targets of the notice might be and why this has become an issue is not addressed, but potential offenders have been given a 14-day enforcement notice. That means all unlicensed operators on the 5.4GHz frequency band have to stop using it in the two weeks from the publication of the announcement, which was earlier this week.
This doesn’t appear to be a new problem. For example, in 2020, according to the Daily Post, the NCC visited the site of Trefoil Network Limited operation in Abuja over unauthorised transmission on the 5.4GHz frequency band. There were also enforcement actions against the illegal usage of the band in 2019 and 2018.
According to a business website, 5GHz frequency wireless LANs can offer a relief from the overcrowding of 2.4GHz. 5GHz has a clear signal and more channels that can be combined for higher speeds. 5GHz networks do not suffer the overcrowding that 2.4GHz networks do.