Telecom
NCC, Stakeholders Dialogue on Best Spectrum Auction Model
Players in the telecommunications industry have tabled their positions hoping to influence the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) in the sale frequencies in the 2.6GHz Spectrum.
Arguments swung left and right but majorly for the maintenance of the present pattern of national licensing.
Another handful called for a regional licensing approach that will create room for more players and improved deployment phase.
Speaking at the Forum, Engineer Peter Igoh, chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission said that, the transparent way in which the Commission had conduct its licensing processes, including auctions, have been globally recognized.
He said, the Forum was part of NCC’s consultative disposition in which it strive to ensure inclusiveness in its decision-making processes, fairness and openness in dealings, and predictability in the nation’s telecom regulatory atmosphere.
On his part, Engineer Austin Nwaulune, director, Spectrum Administration at NCC, also said that the Commission has 2 x 70 MHz Slot in the 2.6GHz Band up for sale.
He said they were determined to put it up for the most qualified organizations to utilize them for the benefit of the nation.
Listing issues involved in the process such as the possibility of introducing spectrum caps, licensing options, tenures, roll out obligations and some key issues that the Commission’s auction committee may have put up for consideration, Nwaulune said the Commission’s transparent disposition in the ways and manners in which the auction will be conducted is not negotiable.
Engineer Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), applauded the sense of seeking stakeholders’ views on the process but sought to know why close to 30 companies expressed interest during the sale of 2.3GHz band earlier in the year, but only two went ahead to bid.
He urged NCC to review the process, create changes for business viability.
According to him, most organizations might become skeptical about the bidding should NCC fail to declare its intentions on time, citing the sale of 2.6GHz few months after the 2.3GHz as unpalatable for ventures.
On the Modalities licencing model, Ajayi said he believes in Spectrum Trading, where a company with either a National or a Regional Licence can have the leverage of selling the same to another company without been queried by the NCC.
Nwaulune swiftly explained that spectrum trading might be unfavourable for the industry, as some companies could arm-twist others to get the licence, whereas the end-users bear the blunt.
But, Engineer Bayo Banjo, president, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), has a different view, saying that the industry should learn from past experience that allocation of licences on National bases has not alleviated the broadband penetration challenges.
According to him, National frequency allocation has caused more harms than good, creating hiccups for organizations during deployment and recouping of investments hard to attain.
He opined that such practice can become viable if the bidders and eventual winners are meant to sign agreement to cover the 36 States and the FCT, and no redundancy in spectrum utilization in any of the States.
Nodding in agreement, Chidi Ibisi, chief marketing officer, Broadbased Communications, said that Regionalization of the licencing is the way forward, hence it will boost chances of local companies participation and help in building Companies, which has been the primary focus of Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson, led Ministry of Communication Technology.
On his part, Mr. Aremu Olajide, head of Network Operations, Globacom, said that NCC should work towards ensuring that organizations with pedigree in spectrum administration are given opportunity to manage the scarce resources for the best interest of the nation’s broadband availability and affordability plans.
He urged NCC not to depart from the objectives of these programmes centered on deepening competition and improve broadband penetration in the Country.
Meanwhile, Igoh said that the Commission has commenced the processes for the selection of Infrastructure Companies for Lagos and North Central Region in line with the Open Access Model that was launched in 2014.
In due course, qualified companies will be selected in that process to give impetus to the drive to achieve robust deployment and service provisioning for broadband services across the country.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has thrown its weight behind the upcoming Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), confirming its role as the headline keynote speaker for the Lagos event.
Over the years, the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) has evolved into a landmark industry convergence platform and an actionable catalyst for policy alignment, driving critical dialogue around the regulatory, economic, and infrastructural frameworks required to sustain Nigeria’s digital economy.
Taking place on 16th September, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, the seventh edition of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), organised under the aegis of Business Remarks, will bring together key stakeholders driving the next phase of Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital growth.
Themed “Rethinking Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Strategy to Attract Investment and Drive Innovation”, TSSF 7.0 will address some of the sector’s most pressing priorities, such as policies, digital infrastructure expansion, digital inclusion, good connectivity, partnerships and investments needed to accelerate Nigeria’s next wave of innovations, digital transformation and economic growth.
Organised by Business Remarks, the forum has consistently brought together policymakers, mobile network operators (MNOs), infrastructure providers, data centre operators, policy advocates and financial technology stakeholders to dissect the pressing challenges facing the telecommunications ecosystem and chart a sustainable path forward.
Past editions have successfully addressed pivotal industry shifts, ranging from broadband penetration strategies, human capital flight, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) sustainability and infrastructure deficit funding to the operational integration of emerging technologies. By providing a neutral, high-level platform where regulators like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can interface directly with private sector players, the forum plays a vital role in ensuring that regulatory frameworks evolve in tandem with market realities.
Speaking about the event, the Convener, Bukola Olanrewaju, said the Nigerian telecoms sector investment has grown to $75.6 billion as of 2025, with a planned investment of over $1.38 billion in network capacity upgrades in 2026 targeted to enhance infrastructure resilience, boost coverage and improve quality of service for subscribers nationwide.
“As the industry faces a new frontier defined by deepening 5G and 4G penetration, expanding fibre optic networks, and complex macroeconomic pressures, the need to meet the growing demands for digital services while remaining profitable has become the defining challenge of the modern telecommunications landscape.”
At a time when investment in connectivity, subsea cables, fibre networks, data centres, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity is reshaping the country’s digital landscape, TSSF remains a vanguard of thought leadership and industry engagement, fostering the public-private collaborations necessary to safeguard the backbone of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
MTN Nigeria is accelerating investments in network expansion and modernization to address rising demand for mobile and data services across the country.
The operator is deploying additional base stations, upgrading existing infrastructure, and expanding fiber connectivity to improve network capacity, coverage, and service quality.
The investments are designed to support increasing smartphone adoption, higher data consumption, and the growing use of digital services by consumers and businesses.
MTN said the expansion aligns with its long-term strategy to enhance customer experience while strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The company expects the ongoing upgrades to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and enable broader access to reliable telecommunications services as demand for high-speed broadband continues to increase.
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, has announced the telco’s commitment to connecting 5,000 schools across its operating countries in Africa to the internet by 2027 through its philanthropic arm, Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
So far, the $57m partnership, which was launched in 2021, has cumulatively connected 3,296 schools and provided access to over 2 million learners and about 40,000 teachers. 64 digital learning platforms have been zero-rated thereby enabling more than 11m users to access educational content at no cost.
Speaking during a visit to St. Monica’s Girls School in Lusaka, which is one of the 300 schools already connected to the internet in Zambia, the Airtel Africa CEO stated that the initiative is having a profound impact on the quality of education by expanding access to digital learning resources for African children, in collaboration with governments.
Mr Taldar added: “Students are accessing best-in-class education from the curriculum developed by UNICEF in partnership with various Ministries of Education and provided through Airtel’s connectivity.
“We are also training teachers, so that they deliver digital education effectively. We aim to continue deepening meaningful connectivity in schools by providing free internet access, zero‑rated platforms and training teachers across the continent”.
Expressing her appreciation, the Headmistress of St. Monica’s Girls’ School, Sr Matilda Soloko said: “Being among the first schools connected in the initial stage, our learners have been able to study using the learning portal and their studies have been intensified. We remain grateful to Airtel and UNICEF.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative for Zambia, Dr Saja Farooq Abdullah said: “What this partnership has brought is really bridging the equality gap and the digital divide. It is making sure that every child learns wherever they are. It was exciting and interesting to see and hear from the girls how they can learn at their own pace, how they can review the materials, and how they do their homework with comfort.
The Director of Secondary Education in Zambia’s Ministry of Education, Yvonne Mwemba Chuulu lauded UNICEF and Airtel for the partnership saying: “At the Ministry of Education, we cannot do it alone, and we are grateful for the partnership that we have today.
“Our children are able to learn in a blended fashion, where we have a teacher who is also employing digital devices. We have also heard from the learners that they are able to access the portal when they are at home, which is a good thing because our learners continue to learn in the comfort of their homes”.
The School Connection programme is expanding digital learning to learners in 13 countries: Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. By equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on using the digital tools, it is providing children, particularly in underserved and remote regions, with the digital tools and skills they need to thrive.
Airtel Africa Foundation is advancing inclusive development across four strategic pillars, Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion.
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