After 26 Years, NCC Moves to Review Nigeria’s Telecom Policy

The Nigerian Communications Commission has started a review of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000, 26 years after it was approved. 

The regulator says the policy no longer matches today’s telecom and digital market.

On Monday, NCC released a consultation paper and invited stakeholders to submit input on changes to the policy.

Why NCC is reviewing it

NCC says the 2000 policy was created to replace an older telecom framework that had become outdated. It argues the same thing has happened again: technology and market structures have changed faster than the policy.

The 2000 policy shifted Nigeria from state control to liberalisation and competition, under a unified regulatory framework led by NCC. 

Before that, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited dominated the sector and was linked to poor service quality, obsolete infrastructure, and low teledensity.

What the 2000 policy enabled

The policy drove GSM licensing in 2001 and 2002, which expanded mobile access and overtook fixed lines. It also supported the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, strengthening regulation and attracting investment.

Telecom growth later supported e-commerce, digital payments, and other parts of the digital economy.

What NCC wants to change

NCC is proposing revisions to key chapters and a new chapter focused on broadband and infrastructure.

Chapter Seven (Internet) will be updated to cover online safety, internet exchange direction, and clearer policy on content moderation, online platforms, and digital services operating in Nigeria.

Chapter Eight (Satellite Communications) will be reviewed to set rules for satellite harmonisation, upstream and downstream service provisioning, and how terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks coexist. 

NCC also wants clearer spectrum mapping to improve service quality and reduce connectivity costs.

Chapter Ten (Financing and Funding) will be reviewed to address monetary and fiscal support for sector growth, in the context of tax and fiscal reforms.

NCC also wants input on multiple taxation and overlapping regulation. A new chapter is proposed to set broadband targets, protect critical national communications infrastructure, harmonise right-of-way charges across all tiers of government, and introduce a one-stop permitting process for telecom infrastructure deployment.