The National Communication Commission waded into the ongoing controversy over the amendment of the electoral bill when it disclosed that 2G network, which is common in rural areas is not strong enough for transmission of election result electronically.
The commission which was represented by its Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Engr. Ubale Maska and the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu had earlier been summoned by the House of Representatives over the suitability of the use of electronic devices for the transmission of election results in the country as part of ongoing discussion in the House as being provided in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Maska, who spoke on behalf of the team, told members thatless than 50% of the country enjoys 3G Internet coverage for which electronic transmission of results could rely on.
He said as at 2018, when the Commission carried out a survey of 109,000 polling units, of the country’s 119,000 polling units were covered but the surveyed polling units were covered mostly by the 3G and 2G networks, which represents about 50.3% of the entire country.
He stated that 49.7% of the national spread did not have Internet coverage, which will be required for real-time electronic transmission of electoral results.
Asked if 2G technology could be used for electronic transmission of results, Engr. Maska said though he wished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was around to answer, however, only 3G could transmit results effectively.