General News
Unlicensed & Licensed Bands for Wireless Networks Expanding SATCOM Role in Booming Market

Andrew Aroh
5G brings three new aspects to the table: greater speed [to move more data]; Lower latency [to be more responsive]; higher capacity (the ability to connect a lot more smart devices and sensor at once).
There will be slow but responsive 5G.
There will be also fast 5G with limited coverage.
Spectrum-wise 5G runs in three kinds of airwaves: Low–Frequency bands networks; Mid–Frequency bands networks; and high–Frequency bands networks.
Low –Frequency bands 5G networks use existing cellular band and Wi-Fi band [5 GHz] by taking advantage of more flexible encoding using OFDM [better spectral efficiency, data reliability and effective range].The resulting bigger channel sizes thus created achieves speeds 25 to 50 percent better than 4G [2Gbps].
This yields about 3.5Gbps which is better than existing 54 Mbps for Wi-Fi.
These networks can cover the same distances using existing cellular networks and generally won’t need additional cell sites/Access points (AP).
Thus, even with existing macro cells 5G will be able to boost capacity by four times better than current systems by leveraging wide bandwidths and advanced antenna technologies [Multi beam with massive MIMO].
The goal is to have far higher speeds available and far higher capacity per sector, at far lower latency than 4G [20-30ms].
The standards bodies involved are aiming at 20Gbps speeds and 1ms Latency, at which point very interesting things begin to happen.
The first applications for 5G includes fixed wireless access for homes and enhanced mobile broadband [eMBB] services using new 5G phones, tablets, wireless access modems and HOTSPOTS.
High –speed wireless links tend to be deployed in conjunction with wireless access technologies, namely:
- LMDS/WLL base/earth stations
- Mobile Voice and Data base/earth stations
- Hotspot [Wi-Fi] base/earth stations
Hotspot access network is one in which wireless access is enabled by 802.11-based Wi-Fi technology.
This allows very high–speed roamable access to: Portable computers, PDAs, video games, services terminals of various types [e.g. IPAD], warehouse/industrial equipment, office computers, hand/personal wireless phones i.e. GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite).
Hotspots have been vigorously deployed to primarily serve the travelling business community with the current applications being corporate LAN access.
Hotels, airports, conferences centers, restaurant centers and shopping malls are the current deployment targets intended to serve these markets.
The low cost of the user terminals coupled with the pseudo-mobility of this technology will see it in wide spread HOME INDOOR and OUTDOOR deployments with virtually unlimited applications and services.
This technology has found its way into a merger of sorts with the existing mobile voice networks, providing much sort after integrated mobile voice & data networks with widespread ubiquitous coverage provided via satellite.
Larger Hotspots are constructed using a number of short range Access Points [APs] operating in unlicensed band allocations at 2.4, 5.2 or 5.8 GHz.
Each AP can provide access rates of 11Mbps or 54Mbps using highly standardization 802. 11a/b/g/n using COFDM technology for large and scalable Networks.
The Hotspots within a given metropolitan networks can then be linked using wire line/cable or wireless technologies.
Like other cellular networks, 5G networks use a system of Cell Sites/APs that divide their territory into sectors and send encoded data [using OFDM] through radio waves. Each site must be connected to a network backbone. High speed wireless links operating above 50Mbps can be operated in unlicensed bands or licensed bands depending upon the services and perceived interference immunity of the links, whether through a wired or wireless backhaul connection.
- When considering, wireless inter Hotspot, links, the use of unlicensed technology is attractive since the entire 802.11 user access layer is unlicensed.
- However, once aggregation in the Hotspot has occurred, the interference prone nature of the unlicensed bands makes them unstable choices for backhaul except for bands like 24GHz and 60GHz in which there is a high degree of natural or regulated interference immunity.
- As a result, the aggregation of the data from these access cells tend to be focused on high-speed, highly reliable and predictable links constructed using fiber [If available] or licensed high-speed wireless using satellite technology or microwave links. Frequencies such as 18, 23, 26 and 28 GHz are often candidates for these licensed links. Care must be taken when considering unlicensed operation in the 5.8GHz band since this band is highly prone to interference .The 24 GHZ allocation does allow only highly directive PTP links and 60 GHz offers very highly natural attenuation against undesired interferences. Ultimately, the best reliability and predictability are offered by licensed links.
- 5G over satellite catches on much faster than unexpected:
- Satellite must be inserted into the global virtualized architecture
- Industrial companies have demonstrated the use of satellite communications capabilities integrated and interoperable in the 5G environment, achieve interoperability of networks and demonstrate the functionality, performance and benefits brought by the use of satellite. The first phase leveraged existing space and ground segment assets and new development enables the high efficiency, high performance, virtualization and multi service capability paramount for the main 5G use cases.
- These activities drives the full integration of satellite in 5G through open and standard solutions, facilitated primarily through 3GPP standardization.
SATELLITE PROVIDERS LOOK TO EXPAND ROLE IN BOOMING Wi-Fi MARKET:
- Increasing demand for broadband internet access anytime, anywhere is what is fueling the growth of Wifi services.
- Satellite services providers are moving into the booming market for wireless communications by offering satellite links for Wi-Fi [Short for Wireless Fidelity] hot-spots.
- The market is substantial as Wi-Fi hot-spots continue to pop up in office buildings and other public and private venues around the world. Indeed, both satellite and terrestrial service providers are competing to offer the services.
- Just as satellite backhaul has helped expand the reach of mobile telephone networks, it can also expand Wi-Fi access.
- Rural markets in developed countries, such as France, as well as those in less developed area in Africa, are being brought across the digital divide because of such access.
- A particularly interesting satellite application in the U.S.A is to connect temporary Wi-Fi hot-spots used for sporting events and natural disaster relief.
Broadband wireless software and network providers have found that satellite networking can work better than terrestrial lines to connect wide area Wi-Fi hot-spot networks.
Installing a nationwide-network with terrestrial links [Lines] involves complexities that can include the use of multiple vendors, long lead lines, and multiple points of contact for repairs.
Satellite network uses a single vendor.
- A strategic partner and value added reseller can provide an internet portal for truckers with Wi-Fi hot spots at more than 250 truck shops. It can also offer software solutions and a satellite network capable of transmitting data at up to 48 megabits per second.
- When drivers or any other subscribers are in a hot-spot, they have access to a proprietary network that can transmit application data, access the internet and intranets, as well as send and receive-email.
- To enhance cost-effectiveness of its system, service partners can design their networks around hotspot access locations that will be located strategically across the country.
- Wi-fi hotspots provide an excellent avenue for satellite systems to provide broadband access even with traditional-distribution satellites.
Andrew Aroh is President SSPI Nigeria
General News
Afreximbank to Fund African Energy Bank with $19bn

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the Afreximbank would invest $19 billion to fund the African Energy Bank.
He said the $19 billion would go a long way toward tackling and overcoming energy poverty, driving economic growth, and improving the lives of millions of people.
The minister disclosed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Pavilion, hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S with the theme “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development.”
He said that by pooling resources, African countries can invest in large-scale energy projects.
Also, the minister stressed the need for Africa to develop cohesive policies tailored to its unique circumstances, warning that fragmented approaches would be ineffective in addressing the escalating energy deficit.
“This conference is not a jamboree. It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa — to showcase its vast potential,” Lokpobiri said.
He underscored the importance of regional collaboration, highlighting the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a strategic entity established to devise shared solutions for the continent’s energy challenges.
According to him, the prevailing global discourse on energy transition is largely influenced by geopolitical considerations.
In response to this challenge, he announced that APPO is in the process of establishing the African Energy Bank to bridge funding gaps and ultimately free the continent from energy poverty.
During a meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Lokpobiri advised Ghana to draw lessons from Nigeria’s past experiences in the energy sector, particularly in avoiding early missteps.
In his address, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdullahi, acknowledged Nigeria’s leading role in the region.
He stated that while Ghana is a relatively new player in the oil and gas sector, it is eager to learn from Nigeria’s experiences and reforms, especially in the areas of local content development and climate policy.
“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry. The collaboration between both countries remains strong. For his part, PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya emphasised the significance of Nigeria’s presence at OTC.
He said: “This year’s event, under the Nigerian Pavilion, is set to highlight Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector.
“OTC 2025 promises to bring together top-tier industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders at the world’s largest energy event.”
General News
NIPOST Suspends Cash Transactions Nationwide

Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has declared July 1, 2025, as the deadline for phasing out cash transactions across all its offices nationwide.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by Frank Alao, director of Corporate Communications,NIPOST.
The move is part of a broader reform initiative aimed at transforming NIPOST into a more innovative, efficient, and digitally driven organisation.
The management explained that the reforms are aligned with global best practices and tailored to meet the demands of Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Alao stated, “We are assuring Nigerians of a revitalised NIPOST that delivers superior service and embraces the future.
“A major highlight of the reform package is the transition to a fully cashless system. Beginning July 1, 2025, all post office counters nationwide will no longer accept cash payments for their services. Customers will be required to use approved electronic channels for all transactions.
“This is a crucial step in our modernization journey, one that ensures safer, faster, and more transparent service delivery.”
General News
FG Faults AfDB’s Adesina on Nigeria’s GDP Per Capita Figures

The Presidency has faulted claim of Akinwumi Adesina, president, African Development Bank (AfDB), on the current Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita figures versus the level it was in 1960 when Nigeria attained independence.

Akinwumi Adesina, president, African Development Bank
The outgoing AfDB President had in a recent viral statement claimed that Nigerians are worse off today than in 1960 when Nigeria’s GDP per capita was $1847..
The AfDB President claimed that in contrast to the level of the GDP per capita at Nigeria independence, the country’s current GDP stands at $824 today, a reflection of the current rampant poverty and low human development in the country.
But in a rebuttal of the claim, the presidency, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu accused the AfDB President of failure to carry out proper research and speaking like a politician in his assertions.
“Adesina spoke like a politician, in the mould of Peter Obi and did not do due diligence before making his unverifiable statement,” the presidency said while faulting the claim of the AfDB President.
While countering the claim of Adesina, the presidency noted in the statement that available data indicated that Nigeria’s GDP was $4.2 billion in 1960, and per capita income for a population of 44.9 million was $93, not even one hundred dollars.
“Our country’s GDP did not rise remarkably until the 1970s, when crude earnings ballooned. In 1970, our GDP rose to $12.55 billion. In 1975, it was $27.7 billion, $64.2 billion in 1980, and $164 billion in 1981. Up until 1980, per capita income did not exceed $880. It rose to $2187 in 1981 and dropped to $1844 in 1982. In 2014, after rebasing, it reached an all-time high of $3,200.
“These facts raise questions about the source of Dr Adesina’s figures,” Onanuga said.
However, the presidency also faulted the AfDB President, a former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture of making inferences on the state of poverty or human development in Nigeria solely based on the GPD per capita numbers. .
“Dr Adesina should know that GDP per capita is not the only criterion used to determine whether people live better lives now than in the past. Indeed, it is a poor tool for assessing living standards.
“Its primary usefulness is in giving us the metrics to compare economic output in a country or between countries.
“GDP masks many activities in a country’s economy. It neither discloses wealth distribution or income inequality nor accounts for the informal economy, which experts have said is enormous. It does not account for subsistence farming or income transfer from one family member to another,” the presidency said.
The Presidency also noted that GDP per capita is not reflective of the fact that Nigerians in 2025 have better access to healthcare, education, and transportation, such as rail and air transport, than in 1960.
“This premise alone suggests why Dr Adesina should not have arrived at his conclusion.
“Compared with 1960, Nigeria today has more primary, secondary, and tertiary schools.
“We have more road networks and more medical facilities, private and public. We have phenomenal access to telephones.
“At Independence, we had 18,724 operational phone lines for a population of about 45 million. Over 200 million Nigerians now enjoy near-universal access to mobile phones and digital services, indicating we are better off today than 65 years ago.”
Furthermore, the presidency noted that Nigerian policymakers know that whatever GDP figure NBS publishes may not capture our economy’s full depth and breadth as it usually excludes the greater part of the informal economy, which some pundits have said may even be more significant than the formal economy.
“This underscores why Dr. Adesina should have considered all aspects of our economy before concluding.”
“When Vodacom, a telecommunications company, considered entering the Nigerian market in 1999 or 2000, its consultants, using the available GDP metrics, advised against it.
“They believed that Nigerians were too poor to afford GSM services. However, MTN and other companies that entered the market later proved them wrong, demonstrating that GDP figures alone do not provide a complete picture of a country’s economic potential or the living standards of its people.
“MTN and other adventurers came later, and they laughed all the way to the bank. More than 20 years later, they are still laughing despite some setbacks in 2023 and 2024. In its first-quarter results this year, MTN declared revenue of N1 trillion and an increase of 8.2 percent in subscriptions, which took the number of its voice and data users to 84 million. Does this MTN experience correlate with a country worse off than in 1960, when we had analogue telephones and the number of lines was fewer than 20,000?
“No objective observer can claim that Nigeria has not made progress since 1960. Today, as we await the NBS’s recalibration of our GDP, we can comfortably say without contradiction that it is at least 50 times, if not 100 times, more than it was at Independence.”
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