NCC assigns nationwide frequency to Prestel

Remmy Nweke

PIONEER Unified License Operator (ULO), Prest Cable and Satellite TV Systems Limited (Prestel) has been assigned a nationwide frequency by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

In a letter of assignment of frequency to Prestel and made available to ITRealms Online, was sequel to the payment of annual spectrum fees for additional one carrier in the 800 Mega Hertz (MHz) band for Wireless Local Loop (WLL) embedded in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operations.

The frequency apart from covering the 36 states of the federation also covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Chairman and chief executive officer, Prestel, Mr. Anthony Prest confirmed this development, saying it was after his firm paid N350,000,000.00 for this national frequency assignment in 800MHz band.

As explained by him, Prestel now has estimated three carriers each in every state nationwide.

“Our intention is to make sure that every house in Nigeria has a land line/fixed wireless telephony and anybody who wants Internet (EVDO) can do so from the comfort of their homes and office,” Mr. Prest said.

Noteworthy is that Prestel is so far the only known ULO based in Niger Delta and championing development of ICT in the country.

A letter signed by Mr. U.A.S. Maska on behalf of the executive vice chairman and chief executive of NCC, said the status of the updated total assignment in the 800 MHz comprises earlier assignment dated July 12, 2006, said the assignment is renewable annually with the next renewal due on January 2008.

The assignment of 800 MHz band which is being shared by many operators, NCC said, is needed to ensure that there is enough separation between the carriers of adjacent operators in order to avoid interference.

The channel of frequency to Prestel cut across channel 52, 94 and 136 and on bandwidth of 827.82 MHz and 872.82 MHz and 829.08 MHz and 874.08 MHz between Rx and Tx respectively as well as 8826.56 and 871.56.

On the roll-out obligations, NCC said, the use of lose would apply to this assignment consequent upon the requirement to roll out services in at least three states in each of the geopolitical zones of the country within five years starting from January 2007.

It would be recalled that the Edo State-based Prestel, recently secured a numbering plan from the regulator, the NCC.

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